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Once Upon a Time
I never really understood what James Sirius Potter and I had been until the day I met Hallie.
At the end of Diagon Alley, past the entrance to Knockturn Alley, and hidden relatively well behind a decomposing, broken cart is a little bookshop known as “Once Upon a Time.” I had first run smack dab into the wooden door the summer before my third year at Hogwarts. I’ve never been one for romance or fairytales thus, I was a bit skeptical of the decrepit, ancient looking store as the name itself was enough to make me want to turn around find my mother amidst the throng of shoppers. But for some reason the dark wooden doors and peeling paint of the sign intrigued me and I walked inside. It quickly become my favorite place in the Alley and every chance I got I returned.
The owner was an adorable little old lady with long gray hair that she piled on top of her head in a bun named Beatrice. For some odd reason she adored me and always had a fresh stack of books and a cup of tea waiting for me each time I stopped by.
After I graduated Hogwarts and was thrust out into the big bad world, I made a point of trying to stop by once every few months. Once Upon a Time was a sort of security blanket for me. It was as though as soon as I stepped through those doors I was thirteen again and without a care in the world.
I met Hallie during one of those visits. It was a cold December day, overcast and foggy. The cobblestones of the alley were covered in ice and dirty, melting snow. I took great care to ensure I didn’t fall on my ass as I made my way down the street. After popping into Flourish and Blotts to pick up a new quill for work I began walking towards the bookshop, window shopping as I made my way.
I was monetarily sidetracked as I came up to the quidditch supply shop. I needed to pick up a Harpie’s jersey for my niece, Maxine. Three year old Max had just discovered quidditch and I had promised my sister I would pick one up for her as a Christmas present. Eager to escape the cold winter wind that had begun to blow I hurried through the door, the bell ringing as it hit the frame. There were quite a few shoppers inside and a dozen or so kids had gathered around the latest Firebolt edition. I smiled to myself as I watched a young girl in pigtails glare at the boy next to her , “You idiot, not even the XX could make you a better player.”
After selecting the jersey, I made my way up to the line to pay. I squeezed through an arguing couple and took my spot in line behind a teenage girl who was staring at the new edition of Quidditch Monthly with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Curious as to what could possibly be making her blush such a bright hue I glanced over at the magazine rack next to us. I quickly found the source of her discomfort. Fucking hell was the only thought to cross my mind as my eyes bulged. I coughed and quickly removed my jaw from the floor. Shifting the jersey in my hands I scanned the immediate area to make sure no one had seen my reaction to the picture on the cover. Absolutely no way, I chided myself, you’re seeing things. I shut my eyes, no I was stronger than this I would not look again. Despite my personal pep talk I found myself unable to keep my eyes from taking on a life of their own. Before I could stop myself my jaw was on the floor once again and my eyes were, for the second time in a matter of seconds, stuck on the shirtless picture of James Potter shamelessly plastered across the cover of the magazine.
I had always assumed whoever was in charge up there hated me and today was no exception. I quickly paid for my purchase and hurried back out into the cold; far, far away from the accursed Quidditch magazine. As I strode down the street I noticed it had begun to snow. I silently prayed that I would finish my errands before a storm hit, but my prayers apparently fell upon closed ears. By the time I arrived at the front steps of Once Upon a Time the air was thick with white stuff. I shuffled in, rubbing my hands together and made my way around the stacks of books to the desk, “Bea?” I called as I set down my bags on the floor and pulled my hat off my head. No one answered and I frowned as I slid of my coat and hung it over the chair nest to me, “Bea?”
“Hello Hun,” called a loud, female voice. The owner of said voice was hidden behind the large stack of books in her hands, which she set down on the desk. She was a tiny lady with large lips covered in red lipstick and honey blonde curls with streaks of white in them. She was also, clearly not Beatrice.
She smiled at me as she picked up a couple books from the floor and piled them on top of the group she had just placed onto the desk, “Bea isn’t here today. She’s out with a cold. I’m her sister Hallie and you, young lady look cold as hell,” with a flick of her wand a tea tray flew from the tiny office in the corner to the desk and set itself down on a thick leather book. The pot poured a portion of amber liquid into one of the tiny china cups, “One or two lumps sweetheart?”
My teeth chattered, “Two please.” I took the cup gratefully and took a sip, relishing in the feeling of its warmth spread to the tips of my toes. I smiled gratefully at her, and she returned the gesture as she began sorting through the books in between us, “You must be June.”
“Yes ma‘am,” I replied, taking another sip of the tea. Hallie smiled up at me brightly and let out a tinkling laugh, “Ah! So I finally get to meet the infamous June Montgomery.”
“Yes?“ I took another sip of tea, confused by her enthusiastic reaction. Hallie poured herself a cup and sat down in the leather chair behind the desk, she smiled brightly at me as she sipped her drink, “Nothing like a good cup of tea on a stormy day like today,“ she sat down the glass, “Now as I was saying, it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Montgomery, Bea has told me so much about you. You’re her favorite customer you know. Back when you were at Hogwarts she used to adore coming over for brunch and telling me all about your adventures.”
I chocked on the sip I had just taken, Bea had told her what? I had always thought that the conversations Bea and I had were our own little secrets; Bea was my confidant! What had Bea told her? She wouldn’t of told her about that… no she probably just chatted about the silly things Roxie, Harper and I had done… Speaking of which I needed to owl Harper, the bint had left one of her heels at my house last weekend…
Hallie must have seen the look on my face, because she was quick to pat my hand and let out a tinkling laugh, “Oh don’t worry Hun, my lips are sealed. All of your adventures are safe with me,” she picked up her teacup again, “You have to understand that Bea is eternally amused by how similar she find you and I,” Hallie finished with a wink.
“And how are you and I similar?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. In an attempt to make myself seem a bit less bitchy and rude I began fumbling over my words, “I mean… sorry… I…”
Bea began sorting the books in front of her and she smiled at me, “It’s quite alright dear, I understand. Bea finds our stories similar,” she sent me a knowing glance as she picked up a red book.
I licked my lips and attempted to think up a proper way as to inquire what she meant, but apparently Hallie liked to talk just as much as I normally did because she beat me to it, “You see dear once upon a time I was a young lady like yourself. I know it’s a bit hard to believe, but I was once young and in love.”
“Oh,” was my magnificent reply, as I searched my brain for how on earth that made us similar; it wasn’t like she could possibly mean…
In my normal fashion of speaking before thinking I blurted out rather eloquently, “How does that make us similar?” What had she meant by “in love?” I was most definitely not in love. Never had been, never would be. Love was the sort of thing reserved for my parents or other sane people on the planet. Yup.
She laughed again and shook her head, “Oh darling. Bea has told me all about your escapades at Hogwarts with the eldest Potter boy.” She sent a rather charming smile my way as I choked on my tea. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I coughed, “ I… What? I have never had any escapades with James Potter. I hate James Potter”
James Potter had been the bane of my existence since my fifth year at Hogwarts. Long story short, we rather disliked one another. His favorite activity had been attempting to get a rise out of me and mine had been verbally and physically abusing him. I had never been able to stand the pig tail pulling, poking, teasing, ink splattering, broomstick stealing manwhore. Stupid, arrogant, conceited git.
The last time I had seen him was graduation, and I vowed to myself as I walked off the train to forget all about him. It had taken a lot of tears, rage, chocolate and late night therapy sessions with my teddy bear, but I had ended up fulfilling it… sort of…
“Oh Hun, you and I both know that is a lie,” Hallie dismissed me as she poured herself another cup of tea, “Need a refill?” Before I could reply my cup was out of my hands and filled with more delicious amber liquid.
“Now then,” Bea began again, “When I was your age I had my very own James Potter. That boy drove me up the wall. No one else could put me in such a tizzy as he could,” she put her cup down and turned so she was directly across from me, “Oh how I loathed that boy,” she said fondly, tears misting her eyes. She brushed her hand over her hair as a far away look took over her eyes, “Or at least I thought I did. In the end it was something entirely different.”
I gulped at my tea, ignoring the burn of the hot liquid as it poured down my throat. I knew what she meant. To my great annoyance I felt guilt settle into my stomach like a stone. As much as I loathed admitting it (even to myself,) I knew what she was referring to. My tea now gone, I took to staring at the floor.
Bea sighed and leaned back in her chair, “Archie was exactly like your James. Funny, good looking, intelligent, a prankster not a day goes by when I am not reminded of some stupid little thing he did. Oh that boy, never thought I’d hear of another like him and then Bea shows up at my house for brunch one Sunday morning eight or so years ago, as per usual, with a wicked smile on her face. She told me that she had quite the story for me. Naturally I asked what it was and she told me her little June had returned from school for summer and had stopped by the shop the Friday before filled to the brim with hatred for one James Potter,” I smiled to myself as I remembered the day.
“After that, whenever you stopped by the shop she would tell me all about your exploits with James; from him dying your hair blue to you lighting him on fire,” Hallie chuckled, “It was quite refreshing to hear that I was not alone,” Hallie winked at me, I let out a half hearted chuckle.
“There is one bit that intrigues me the most though. Hallie never told me what happened with you and Mr. Potter…”
“That’s because nothing happened with…” I trailed off, “We graduated, never saw one another again, the end.”
Hallie raised an eyebrow in my direction, “Is that really what happened June?” she questioned.
I don’t know if it was the amount of tea I had consumed, the musty smell of the books, or perhaps Hallie’s concerned and caring face; but somehow, after a few moments of silence, I opened my lips and to my surprise words rushed out. I soon found myself telling her everything; even though I was sure she had already been told most of it by Bea. Then I told her what I hadn’t told Bea, what I hadn’t told anyone else. About how we fought at graduation. About how I really did miss him terribly. About how I would give anything to see him again. About how I hated myself for being so blind. Through what seemed like hours, Hallie listened with a serene smile on her face and the occasional squeeze of my hand.
“I’m just so confused,” I finally whispered staring into the dregs of my teacup, “It’s been years since I last saw him and yet…I can‘t forget him…” I trailed off and looked up at her, “I haven’t spoken to him in what 4, 5 years? I haven’t seen him since graduation and yet I can’t… I don’t understand…” I finished lamely. Hallie sighed deeply and clicked her tongue at me, “June,” she said kindly, “Why do you think you can’t forget him?”
I groaned, “ I don’t know… it makes no sense what so ever. It’s not like I was in love with him… I mean…” I stuttered as Hallie smiled.
“I don’t,” I told her as she picked up the tea pot, “Hallie stop looking at me like that, I do not.”
“But you do love him June,” she said simply pouring me more tea, “and I’m pretty sure that boy loves you.”
I snorted into the fresh tea, “Oh please, James Potter doesn’t love me. He probably hates me now. Actually, let’s be honest, he’s probably forgotten all about me. You could probably walk up to him and say hey do you remember June Montgomery, you used to turn her hair blue in charms class and he would go nope. I mean why…” I rambled on until Hallie broke in, “June.“
“I mean honestly, that would be absolutely mad! And it isn’t as if I would want him to you know like be in love with me. That would be absolutely barking mad…“
“June, sweetheart, stop,” Hallie laughed as she patted my hand, “Listen darling, speaking as someone who has been in your shoes and who has seen the big picture and understands how this whole thing works, there is no way that boy has forgotten about you.”
I began to protest again, even though I knew anything I said would be in vain. Hallie sighed, “June, trust me. The two of you were unofficially dating for nearly three years.”
I shook my head and scoffed.
“Besides,” Hallie said knowingly, “Neither of you ever got closure,” she smiled. My ears rang as she uttered the final word. Closure.
“Closure,” I repeated, the word sounded bitter and harsh on my tongue. To me closure meant him finally telling me he hated me. Closure meant having to admit to things outloud I didn’t want to admit to. Closure meant having to admit certain things to myself, again. To experience the pain, again. Closure, I decided, was a dirty word.
“You’ll regret it your whole life if you don’t tell him,” Hallie said patting my arm as she ducked under the desk and began rummaging about. I sipped the rest of my tea silently, my mind buzzing. Hallie re-appeared with three books in her hands, she sat them down next to me, “Bea wanted me to give you these to read, I’ll be murdered if I forget. She thought you would enjoy them.”
“Tell her I said thank you,” I said quietly as I picked up my tea cup.
“June,” Hallie took my hand, “I didn’t love Archie because I wanted to. I didn’t want to, I fought against it. In the end I just did. There was no rhyme, no reason, I just did.”
I looked up at Hallie and studied the lines on her face. They told the story of great heartache and sadness. I bit my lip, “Hallie,” I asked hoarsely, “What happened with you and Archie?”
She sighed and clasp her hands together, “Archie was killed during the first war. We were fresh out of school and thought we could save the world. That’s why you need to tell James you love him sweetheart. Not because he could die any second. There is no war now, there’s peace; but because I know what it’s like to have live a life without ever telling the boy you love most that you love him. And I wouldn’t wish that pain upon my worst enemy,” her voice cracked at the end and she squeezed my hand.
“But Hallie, I don’t love him,” I sighed, she raised and eyebrow. Hallie picked up one of the piles and began making her way towards the shelves. I set down my tea cup and ran my fingers through my hair. No, June Montgomery doesn’t fall in love I told myself, least of all with James effing Potter. Why on earth was Hallie so insistent that I was lying to myself, I knew I didn’t love him. Wasn’t that what I had decided? That it hurt too much in the end to be love? Love wasn’t supposed to cause you so much pain you wanted to die! Love wasn’t supposed to make you lie in your bed and cry night after night. Love didn’t feel like this, like that had… no, that was not love. Then what was it?
I was June Montgomery and I did not fall in love.
I don’t love him. Maybe I did, for a moment or second I rationalized. Liar, my conscience screamed. I ran my hands through my hair as I replayed the events of our seventh year to myself- from the train ride on September 1st to me crying on the balcony to leaving the train and turning my back on him. Why had it all happened, what was the reason? I stared at my hands as Hallie’s former words, “I didn’t want to…in the end… I just did…”
I truly don’t know how long I sat there staring at the floorboards thinking about what Hallie had said and James, Then out of the blue it hit me. Despite all the fights, all the screaming, all the tears, all my cynicism and all the years I loved him. Even though I never wanted to love him, I did. I honestly and truly loved him.
“Well that’s just peachy,” I muttered aloud to no one as I let my head hit the table top. A few shelves away I heard Hallie’s tinkling laugh.
Hallie held my books hostage until I promised to one day, eventually tell James I loved him. Skeptical that I would ever have to fulfill my promise I bundled back up and, after giving Hallie one last hug, made my way out into the snowy alley.
Eventually I made my way back up to the Leaky Caldron. It was far too dangerous for me to apparate home at the moment, what with the weather and all, so I decided that I might as well have a drink and wait and see if the storm would subside.
It was empty except for the elderly wizard sitting in the corner enjoying his evening pint. I pulled up a stool at the bar, “ Can I get a firewhisky Tom?” I called out to the aging landlord. He levitated a mug of the steaming liquid over to me and I threw a few sickles and knuts onto the counter. The whisky burned my throat as it went down, but I was far to cold to care. I closed my eyes and leaned back in my chair relishing in the way the whisky made my very blood warm up. I sat in the quiet for a few moments until my peace and tranquility was interrupted as the door slammed shut and someone pulled up a stool a few seats away, the legs of the bar stool scraping against the stone floor, “Hot Gillyweed Tom.”
For the second time that day I choked on my drink. I made a mental note that I needed to keep this from becoming a habit. I mean really, I was going to end up dead via chocking on liquid by Christmas at this rate. Despite my concerns of self, I had a much bigger problem. I was quite certain that if I were to open my eyes, two seats down a familiar hazel eyed, messy haired pain in the arse would be seated. I elected to keep my eyes closed. If he wanted to talk to me, he would have to make the first move. I could smell the drink in front of me and it was impossible to keep my eyes shut as I felt the tension in the air grow. I allowed my lids to crack open and I reached for my mug. Firewhisky went everywhere.
“Fuck,” I hissed pulling my wand out of my pocket. I was stopped by the sound of his voice.
“Montgomery?” he asked quietly. Despite the fact that my mind was screaming retreat, I looked at James. His eyes were wide with an emotion I couldn’t figure out and his eyebrows had disappeared under the fringe on his forehead. I opened my mouth, “Potter.” I managed to stammer out as the fire whisky began to drip onto the floor. It hit my pants.
“Shit,” I flicked my wand and the liquid disappeared, “Tom can I get another drink?” I called out. Soon a second mug appeared in front of me and I took a large gulp as I looked anywhere and everywhere except at the bloke next to me. I could feel James’ eyes on me. Finally, I turned around and glared at him, “What?” in classic James Potter mode, he just smiled and sipped his drink.
“Potter, you can not just creepily stare at a person and then not tell them why when they ask,” I crossed my arms. He smirked, “Just surprised to see you Montgomery…” I rolled my eyes and picked up my drink again, ignoring the feeling of my heart pounding erratically against my ribcage.
I chocked on my drink for a third time. Yes, death via liquid was inevitable at this point, “I…” he smirked again.
“Not as much as you missed me,” I managed to choke out.
“Oh yes because I missed you so much,” he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes, prat. The boy was annoying as ever. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. Professional quidditch had been good to him. His hair was a black and messy as ever, and his eyelashes were still far to long. One could only imagine what was hidden by his grey peacoat, at that thought the Quidditch Monthly cover flashed across my mind, oh bloody hell. I melted a little inside as he quickly licked his lips. Why had I ever hated him again?
“Stop looking at me June bug.” he clicked his tongue.
Oh, that was why.
“Potter, we‘re 23 years old. There’s no need to act 5,” I hissed. Merlin how I loathed that nickname. I turned in my seat to look at him, “Why the hell are you sitting next to me.”
“Ah, ah Montgomery! Weren’t you the one just lecturing me about acting your age? And if you must know,” He leaned in towards me, “I’m only doing it because it bothers you,” he whispered into my ear. I bit my lip as chills ran down my spine. Hallie was wrong I hated James Potter. Loathed him. 100%. Yes, I hated him.
I glared and took another sip of my drink, Prat. Out of the corner of my eye I could see James looking at me with an indecipherable look on his face.
I turned again, “What?” I asked.
James took a long gulp of his drink and shook his head, “I don’t understand.”
I frowned, “You don’t understand what? Why…” I stopped mid-sentence as he looked me straight in the eyes. Suddenly I found it hard to breathe.
I licked my lips, “You don’t understand what,” I asked softly.
James stared at me for one hellishly long second, “Nevermind,” he mumbled and turned away. He downed the rest of his drink and threw the coins on the table, “See you around Montgomery. Thanks Tom,” he got up and stalked out the back into the Alley. I bit my lip and looked out the window. The storm, if anything, had gotten worse.
“Oh bloody hell,” I said out-loud as I stood up and stormed out the door after him. As annoying, prattish, and moronic as he was I did love him and I wasn’t about to let him die via snow storm.
“Potter you bleeding moron! It‘s the fucking snow storm from hell out here incase you hadn’t realized.!” I screamed at the black blur in front of me as I stomped through the snow. It stopped moving. I ran up to him and crossed my arms.
“Fuck off Montgomery,” he hissed as the wind whipped the snow around us. I pulled my coat around my body tighter, “You James Potter, are an idiot!”
James glared at me, “Just go away June.”
“No! You’re going to freeze to death!”
“Oh it’s not like you care. You want me to die remember?” he glared.
My ears rang as he uttered his last sentence. Guilt coursed through my veins as the memory of me screaming at him on the balcony in the rain on graduation flashed across my eyes. Our eyes met and after one last look of fury he turned on his heel and began to march away. I gaped at him and stormed after him, “Oh you would bring that up! We’re in the middle of a fucking snow storm and you bring that up!”
“I can bring up whatever I fucking want to bring up whenever I want June!” James yelled back as his pace quickened.
“James. Sirius. Potter.” I screamed. It was snowing, I was freezing and Potter wouldn’t listen; I was in a right strop. Potter should know by now, I am always right, “You’re a fucking idiot you know that?” he didn’t stop. He kept walking out into the flurry. It was a literal whiteout with the exception of the black blurs our coats made, “For the love of…”
“For the love of Merlin James, I don’t want you to die!” I screamed. He stopped suddenly and turned around.
“Oh for fuck’s…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence because James interrupted me.
“You don’t want me to die?” he laughed, “Bullshit, you seemed pretty certain when you said it Montgomery.”
I screamed, “You’re bloody impossible!”
“I’m impossible, I’m impossible?” James shouted back, “You’re the impossible one! Every single bloody time…” he shook his head, “… and then I try to be the mature one and you just had to go and muck everything up because of your damned pride!”
“My damned pride? What about your damned pride? And What did you expect me to do when you went up there, huh? Throw myself at you? Well I have news for you Potter it wouldn’t of happened then and it won’t now!” I seethed
“I expected you to at least bloody listen to me, but oh no you couldn’t even bloody listen! You had to flip out over nothing! Nothing June! You didn’t even give me a chance to bloody speak because Merlin forbid this isn’t the world according to June Montgomery!”
I glared, “Oh for fuck’s sake! If I was so wrong and you actually had something to say to me besides insult me why didn’t you bloody stop me from leaving. Riddle me that!”
“Because I was sick of playing your stupid little games. I was finished!”
“Bullshit! If anyone was playing games you were playing games!” I yelled back.
“I was playing games?!”
“Yes, you were! You drove me absolutely bloody insane, every bloody day! Dying my hair, calling me names, playing pranks on me! And then you got all loopy and started doing shit like being nice. You almost seemed human every once in a while. But then it would all go away and you’d go all prat-tastic again! Then you went and told me you bloody loved me and it drove me half insane because I knew you were kidding but everyone else was convinced you meant it,” I glared at him, “You drove me in-bloody-sane with your fucking games! Insane! Drove me completely barmy! So next time you go accusing me of playing games, which I wasn’t, think about all the shit you pulled! Because if anyone was playing games, it was you! And furthermore, because of your fucking games, you broke my fucking heart, you know that?” I wasn’t even coherently aware of the words tumbling out of my mouth as James’ eyebrows disappeared under his bangs, “For fuck’s sake James, even though you were a complete and total prat most of the time I fell in love with you and you broke my freaking heart. Yes I know June Montgomery has a heart who knew… Just ugh! It‘s tiny and black and shriveled, but it‘s still fucking there!” I ran my fingers through my hair, “And you know what the worst part is, no matter how many times I cried myself to sleep, no matter how well I convinced myself I didn’t, no matter how many times I tried to stop I never did. I could never make myself fall out of love with you. So fuck you and your fucking games!” By the time I finished I was shaking, and not from the cold.
James stared at me, I shook my head and bit my lip, “You know what. Fuck you James. Just fuck you. Go ahead and freeze to death out here. I’m done,” I said softly as I turned around and began making my way back to the Leaky Caldron.
“June,” James called out after me but I didn’t turn around. I began walking back quicker, the cold stinging my eyes as they began to fill with tears.
Suddenly I felt someone’s hand wrap around my arm and I spun around. James was standing front of me. I glared at him, he didn’t remove his hand.
“Did you mean it?” he asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.
“Of course I fucking meant it, I wouldn’t of told you if I didn’t. I‘m not the one who plays games,” I hissed, “Now will you bloody let go,” I shook my arm, James‘ grip stayed strong.
“You meant it,” James said.
“Yes I bloody meant it, we’ve established this. Now will you kindly fuck off so I can go nurse my sorrows in the pub…”
“June…” James interrupted as he leaned closer towards me.
“…because fire whisky is a much better companion than you. I don’t know why I followed you out here in the first place. You can just…”
My glorious rant was cut off as James crashed his lips against mine. I froze, completely and utterly shocked. However, my entire thought process was cutoff as James wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. With him so close to me I forgot I was supposed to be upset; hell, I forgot my own name. My mind now mush the only thing I could will myself to do was pull him closer. My gloved fingers found their way around his neck and I tangled them into his hair. I completely forgot about the cold as warmth spread from my fingers to my toes. It was a dizzying, electrifying heat.
My head was absolutely spinning as we broke apart. James leaned his forehead against mine as we both caught our breath. I licked my lips, “ What the hell was that for?”
“Do you realize how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that?” James smirked.
I raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Do tell.”
James pressed a light kiss to my lips, “Since the day you told me to kindly fuck off the first day of classes fifth year.”
Despite the fact that some part of me had always know this I couldn’t help but gape at him; a look I was sure was quite unattractive, especially when we were this close to one another, “Why?” I asked, if I had to bloody admit it he had to as well.
James chuckled and cupped my cheek with his hand, “Because you moron, I love you,” yet again James leaned in and kissed me. I smiled against his lips, but broke it off as a thought crossed my mind.
“Wait,” James frowned as I continued, “You couldn’t of just told me this in the warmth of the pub? You had to drag me out into a snowstorm?” I questioned, I would of said it with more venom, but at the moment I found myself unable to think coherently.
“Come on June bug, nothing says true love like death via hypothermia,” James laughed.
“James Potter, you are a moron,” I hissed as I snuggled closer to him, the wind had picked up, “I mean honestly James, marching out into a snow storm? What were you thinking?”
“Well now that I’ve seen the results, I’m thinking I really should do it more often,” he replied, instead of answering my question. I rolled my eyes, “You would say that.”
“Come on let’s go back inside,” James said and we began to trek back towards the promising glow of the Leaky Caldron’s windows.
As James wrapped his arm around my shoulders I made a mental note to send Hallie a thank you note and some tea. She had been right, as much as I hated to admit it, she had been 100% correct.
You don’t get to chooseto fall in love or who you fall in love with. Sometimes, despite what you may want, it just happens.
Re-vamped and Re-vised for your viewing pleasure. Still not happy with it though... I’m working on the next chapter of Pride (the prequel to this) and thought I’d fix it so it fits with the story better. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as the original!


Busbar trough self-clinching rivet gun: There are currently two types of riveting manufacturing processes used for busbar troughs. One is bolt connection, and the other is self-clinching riveting. The bolt connection method for busbar troughs allows anyone to easily perform connection operations. Tightening the joint bolts is the guarantee for busbar connection. For busbars below 630A, the torque must reach 8Kg, and for those above 800A, the torque must reach 12Kg. The post-fastening inspection requires a 0.01mm feeler gauge check. The self-clinching riveting method is an evolved technology from bolt connection, which has also been widely applied. It has a high level of automation, and the installation and riveting of the rivets are completed by equipment automatically, greatly reducing the manufacturing time of busbar troughs, and eliminating the need to inspect torque and clearance, thereby overcoming the problem of inefficient bolt connection.
Self-clinching riveting connection refers to the process in which a lock-rivet rivet penetrates the first-layer material and the intermediate layer material under the action of external force, and flows and extends in the bottom-layer material to form a locked and riveted connection process with a mutually nested plastic deformation. The self-clinching rivet (Berry machinery)
This riveting point has high tensile strength and shear strength, called a lock-rivet joint.
Process and characteristics of lock-rivet connection:
1. High dynamic fatigue strength
2. Impact energy absorption characteristics
3. A wide range of riveting material combinations (possibility to be determined by testing)
4. Online riveting quality monitoring and management can be achieved
5. The riveting process can be automated, with high efficiency in one-time molding
Lock-rivet characteristics: high strength, suitable for appearance inspection quality, no need for drilling, one-time molding, water resistance, good air tightness, can connect metal and non-metal materials, can connect materials with different thickness and strength, and can connect multiple layers of materials.
Lock-rivet connection is widely used in automobile industry, industrial electrical appliances, white goods, aerospace, metal structures, mechanical engineering, railway transportation, and other industries, specifically solving the connection technology problems between aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, composite materials, and steel materials. It can greatly improve production efficiency, enhance product quality, reduce overall production and logistics costs, and create economic value and technological value for customers.


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Updated Guidance Regarding Providers' Obligations to Screen for Persons Excluded from Participation in Federal Health Care Programs
The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has the authority to exclude individuals and entities from participation in federally funded health care programs (“Excluded Persons”), and health care providers are prohibited from employing or contracting with Excluded Persons. OIG maintains a List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (“LEIE”) and has recently updated its guidance regarding providers’ obligations to screen for Excluded Persons and the manner in which providers utilize the LEIE to screen employees and contractors to ensure they are not Excluded Persons.
Generally, Excluded Persons are prohibited from providing or ordering services directly or indirectly (such as in the role of an officer or managing employee) payable under federal health care programs, and providers are prohibited from contracting with or employing them for such purposes. Providers who violate these prohibitions may be subject to penalties up to $10,000 per item or service, assessments up to three times the amount claimed, and federal health care program exclusion.
Screening for Excluded Persons
To avoid liability for impermissibly employing or contracting with Excluded Persons, OIG recommends that providers receiving payments from federal health care programs primarily monitor the LEIE, available here. Providers should check the LEIE before engaging new employees and contractors providing items or services payable by a federal health care program. This may also require screening employees of contractors furnishing such items or services to the provider. While OIG stated that providers may choose to rely on screening conducted by the contractor of its employees that the provider then validates – for example, by obtaining appropriate documentation of screening from the contractor – such reliance would not necessarily preclude the provider’s liability for any items or services furnished by any Excluded Person. OIG recommends utilizing the LEIE to screen existing employees and contractors on a monthly basis. Documentation should be maintained by the provider, or a third-party retained by the provider to perform its screening, each time the LEIE is checked and should include a record of all names and other information searched.
Exceptions to Excluded Provider Prohibition
OIG clarified the following circumstances under which a provider receiving payments from a federal health care program may employ or contract with an Excluded Person:
• The Excluded Person provides items or services not paid for, directly or indirectly, by federal health care programs.
• The Excluded Person provides items or services only to non-federal health care program beneficiaries.
OIG further explained that a provider employing or contracting with an Excluded Person in these ways does not need to maintain a separate account to pay that person.
Wolff & Samson is prepared to assist clients in refining or establishing proper screening procedures for Excluded Persons. Should you have any questions regarding what the updated OIG guidance means for you and your business, please do not hesitate to contact an attorney in our Health Care and Hospital Group.

domain: medical


The FBI executed a search warrant Monday at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential documents, including classified documents, that may have been brought there, three people familiar with the situation told CNN.
The former President confirmed that FBI agents were at Mar-a-Lago and said “they even broke into my safe.” He was at Trump Tower in New York when the search warrant was executed in Florida, a person familiar told CNN.
“My beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,” Trump said in a statement Monday evening.
The extraordinary move to search the home of a former president raises the stakes for the Justice Department and comes as Trump’s legal problems continue on multiple fronts. Trump is also expected in the coming months to announce he will launch another bid for the White House in 2024.
The Justice Department has two known active investigations connected to the former President, one on the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election and January 6, 2021, and the other involving the handling of classified documents.
The search began early Monday morning and law enforcement personnel appeared to be focused on the area of the club where Trump’s offices and personal quarters are, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The FBI’s search included examining where documents were kept, according to another person familiar with the investigation, and boxes of items were taken. Following the National Archives’ recovering of White House records from Mar-a-Lago in recent months, the FBI on Monday had to verify that nothing was left behind.
Trump’s son, Eric, told Fox host Sean Hannity that “the purpose of the raid, from what they said, was because the National Archives wanted to, you know, corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession.”
Christina Bobb, Trump’s attorney, said the FBI seized documents. “President Trump and his legal team have been cooperative with FBI and DOJ officials every step of the way. The FBI did conduct an unannounced raid and seized paper,” Bobb said
There was communication between the FBI and US Secret Service before the search warrant was executed Monday, a person familiar with the matter said, allowing for the FBI to access the estate without any complications. There is only a small Secret Service footprint at Mar-a-Lago when Trump is not there.
CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment. The Justice Department declined to comment to CNN.
A White House official said it was not notified about the search. President Joe Biden, a senior administration official said, was unaware of the search of Mar-a-Lago until after it was reported on the news.
Investigation into documents
The National Archives, charged with collecting and sorting presidential material, has previously said at least 15 boxes of White House records were recovered from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort — including some that were classified.
In early June, a handful of investigators made a rare visit to the property seeking more information about potentially classified material from Trump’s time in the White House that had been taken to Florida. The four investigators, including Jay Bratt, the chief of the counterintelligence and export control section at the Justice Department, sat down with two of Trump’s attorneys, Bobb and Evan Corcoran, according to a source present for the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, Trump stopped by and greeted the investigators near a dining room. After he left, without answering any questions, the investigators asked the attorneys if they could see where Trump was storing the documents. The attorneys took the investigators to the basement room where the boxes of materials were being stored, and the investigators looked around the room before eventually leaving, according to the source.
A second source said that Trump came in to say hi and made small talk but left while the attorneys spoke with investigators. The source said some of the documents shown to investigators had top secret markings.
Five days later, on June 8, Trump’s attorneys received a letter from investigators asking them to further secure the room where the documents were stored. Aides subsequently added a padlock to the room.
In April and May, aides to Trump at Mar-a-Lago were interviewed by the FBI as part of the probe into the handling of presidential records, according to a source familiar with the matter.
“It is a federal crime to remove classified documents wrongly. And so if you are filling out that affidavit and you have to list the crime, you can list that as the crime,” said Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor and a CNN senior legal analyst.
Honig told CNN’s Erin Burnett on “OutFront” that the timing of the search held with the longstanding department rule not to execute politically sensitive moves within 90 days of an election.
“Today is just about 90 days out exactly from the midterms, I think maybe 91 or 92 days out. That policy, that may be a reason why they did it today because they want to stay clear of that if they’re interpreting that as a 90 day rule,” he said.
Members of GOP back Trump
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel claimed in a statement that Democrats “continually weaponize the bureaucracy against Republicans,” and a number of Republican lawmakers came to the former President’s defense on social media.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, wrote that he had “seen enough.”
“Attorney General (Merrick) Garland: preserve your documents and clear your calendar. I’ve seen enough. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization,” the Republican leader wrote. “When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned.”
GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said that “we need answers NOW. The FBI must explain what they were doing today & why.”
But the chair of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Trump’s handling of documents, called on the Justice Department to “fully investigate” the former President’s handling of information.
“Presidents have a solemn duty to protect America’s national security, and allegations that former President Trump put our security at risk by mishandling classified information warrant the utmost scrutiny,” Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York said.
“Although details of today’s actions at Mar-a-Lago are still emerging, it is clear that the Department of Justice must fully investigate President Trump’s potentially grave mishandling of classified information.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
Source: Dana Bash, Zachary Cohen, Jeremy Diamond, Shawna Mizelle, and Megan Trimble, cnn.com/2022/08/08/politics/mar-a-lago-search-warrant-fbi-donald-trump/index.html


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Researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have come up with new data that suggests Parkinson’s, a neurological condition that affects between seven and ten million people around the globe, could be combated with something that’s found on nearly everyone’s spice rack: cinnamon.
According to their recent paper on the subject, which was published in the Journal of Neuro-immune Pharmacology, Parkinson’s patients have been found to be deficient in two proteins, called Parkin and DJ-1, respectively. It’s widely believed that stopping the loss of these two proteins could slow Parkinson’s progression and help manage the symptoms—body tremors and mobility issues, amongst others—both of which cinnamon, apparently, does.
During their study, the Rush scientists gave the household spice to lab mice, where it was then metabolized into sodium benzoate, a compound that we sometimes use as a food preservative. After entering the mice’s brains, the researchers found that it “stops the loss of Parkin and DJ-1, protects neurons, normalizes neurotransmitter levels, and improves motor functions in mice with PD.”
The researchers also found that Ceylon cinnamon seemed to be more effective than Chinese cinnamon, a variant that contains a chemical that could cause liver damage.
According to the study’s lead researcher, Rush neurology professor Kalipada Pahan, cinnamon could be “one of the safest approaches to halt disease progression in Parkinson’s patients.”
“Now we need to translate this finding to the clinic and test ground cinnamon in patients with PD,” said Pahan of the next step in the process. “If these results are replicated in PD patients, it would be a remarkable advance in the treatment of this devastating neurodegenerative disease.”

domain: chemistry


Aakriti learns to play tabla for 'Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala'
Mumbai, June 15 : Child actress Aakriti Sharma has been taking tabla lessons for the upcoming episodes on the show Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala.For one of the episodes of the Star Plus show, she was made to fake it, but she insisted on learning the tunes and then went for the take. She also requested the director to let her play the tabla in the upcoming episodes, said a source from the set.
She enjoyed the process.
Aakriti said: I really liked it when my music sir taught me how to play the tabla. It was very interesting and I learned the basics within minutes.


An amazing article for the Lancet….
“As far as I’m concerned it’s neither public nor convenient”, declares a male wheelchair user denied stair-free access to a lavatory in a public awareness poster issued in 1979–82 by The Spastics Society (now renamed Scope). Currently, the poster is displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK), as part of Without Walls: Disability and Innovation in Building Design, an exhibition charting the evolution of architectural practice from designing for disabled people without consulting them, to designing with their input.
The disabled architect Selwyn Goldsmith spoke out against the kind of institutional discrimination highlighted in the poster, and published the first guide to accessible architectural design, Designing for the Disabled in 1963.
Without Walls charts early examples of purpose-built facilities such as a 19th century hospital for people with learning disabilities, a 1920s church for deaf worshippers, and a 1970s public housing project for disabled people through to modern examples including the headquarters of LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (San Francisco, CA, USA), a private house in France for a wheelchair user in which a central platform rises or descends between levels, and a Dutch residential facility for people with advanced dementia.


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A little more about Accel Loans:
- Payday advance loan / Cash advance
- Usually Constantly Check Cashing
The business is positioned within 1412 Letter Kingshighway St, Cape Girardeau, MO. To contact Accel Finance, name (573) 334-3256 during the working times or come across the website at the /p>
Accel Financing Buyers Recommendations:
- Prices and you will costs
- Get in touch with
Annual percentage rate Disclosure. Specific states need assistance limiting the new percentage that’s annual (APR) you to definitely a lender can charge you. APRs getting payday loans range between two hundred% and you will 1386%, APRs for cost loans vary from six.63% so you can 225per cent, and APRs to have personal loans feature cuatro.99per penny so you’re able to 450% and you will disagree from the loan provider. Fund off the right position which has no rules which might be limiting funds on the lender perhaps perhaps not governed of the condition rules could have a level better Apr. New Annual percentage rate will be the cost of and that your loan accrues appeal and is when it comes to the quantity, expense and label of your loan, fee number and you can time out-of lso are lso are payments. Loan providers was lawfully had a need to have demostrated this new Apr in addition to other regards to the loan before you could do a loan offer. Annual percentage rate costs are susceptible to change.
Exceptions. Residents of a few says may not be permitted some or the short-identity, small-dollars finance. Residents away from Arkansas, new york, Vermont and western Virginia aren’t entitled to make use of this solution or website. The states serviced through this unbelievable site may vary from time and effort to help you date, out of the blue.
Borrowing from the bank Implications. The newest driver with this web site does not make any credit choice. Separate, performing creditors that you may possibly get in touch with will get create credit checks that have credit rating bureaus or get customers reports, generally courtesy solution organization to find out credit score, credit score and you can/otherwise borrowing from the bank ability. By the publishing your computer data, your agree to allow lenders which can be acting establish your data and check your own borrowing from the bank. Fund given by independent, participating creditors within circle are created to give currency for you end up being paid within this a quick length of go out. The fresh new small-title fund try maybe perhaps not a solution for very long-long-lasting financial obligation and you will borrowing trouble. Simply use an amount which can be repaid regarding the date of your own spend which is 2nd course. Consider searching for qualified advice concerning your financial standards, threats and choices to brief-label money. Later part of the Money regarding loans can bring on additional fees otherwise collection opportunities, otherwise both. For each financial possess their terms and conditions which can be individual standards, please comment its principles to find out more. Nonpayment out-of borrowing from the bank could result in collection employment. For every loan provider provides its terms and conditions which can be very own requirements, excite opinion online pay day loans Massachusetts the policies for more info. Every lender possesses its own revival coverage, which could go from financial to help you financial. Delight comment your loan providers renewal coverage.

domain: finance


What is AML?
AML stands for Advanced Mobile Location. As per European Emergency Number Association (EENA), it is a technology that is activated when an emergency call is made from a mobile phone. AML enables handset-derived caller location information (GNSS, Wi-Fi etc.) to be provided to the emergency services without prior action from the caller in distress. As per EENA’s AML Report card 2019 (PDF, 200KB), 15 countries currently making use of AML.
How does it work?
Advanced mobile location is a feature built into the carriers' networks and can accurately pinpoint the location of the person who made the emergency call. For example: when an emergency call is made from an advanced GPS-enabled smartphone, it automatically activates the phone's location service and sends information about it to the emergency center.
AML in the UAE
AML was introduced in the UAE in line with its vision to provide a safe society by enhancing a sense of safety in all members of the society and taking the country to an advanced level in emergency preparedness.
AML was deployed in the UAE in 2017. It is operational in the whole country on Android operating systems. It is being tested on iOS.
AML is connected to police services presently. 999 and 998 are the emergency numbers that are activated on Android. On iOS, only 999 is activated.
AML messages are transmitted to the end-point via an SMS to a short number, internally. Two messages from Android and 1 message from iOS are sent during the duration of the call. The police receive AML positions directly in their Geographical Information System between 5 and 12 seconds. The transmission of the AML message is free to the caller.
Read more about AML.
Updated on 24 May 2022


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Main / Books & Reference / Nightshade andrea cremer epub
Nightshade andrea cremer epub download
Helen Johnston. Stolen Souls_ A Penguin Special from Phi - Cremer, Andrea. epub. KB. Rise_ A Nightshade Novel - Andrea MB. 4 Apr · Helen Johnston. That is the nightshade prequel series. 4 Apr · Helen Johnston. Then nightshade series. [Cremer_Andrea]_Shadow_Days(BookFi). epub. Hey guys does anyone have The nightshade world series by Andrea Cremer epub version. Like Show likes Show shared copies. 4 comments. Karen Purvis. nightshade 00 - shadow KB. nightshade 01 - KB. Like 1 Show likes. 22 Sep · Karen Purvis. nightshade 02 - wolfsbane. You can download Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2; Nightshade World #5) eBooks here.. Andrea Cremer. of 41, Download PDF. Download ePub.. Download Andrea Cremer - NightShade Collection epub/mobi torrent or any other torrent from Ebooks category. Direct download via HTTP available as well.. Free PDF.
7 Feb Nightshade Andrea Cremer Epub Download. 8b9facfde6 Download Free eBook:[ shareebook] Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer - Free epub, mobi, pdf ebooks download, ebook torrents download.. You don't need to own a Kindle device to enjoy Kindle books. Download one of our FREE Kindle apps to start. Andrea Cremer's novels include Nightshade, Wolfsbane, Bloodrose, Rift, and Rise. She lives in New York City, quite visibly. Nightshade. Nightshade Series. Book 1. Andrea Cremer Author Rebecca Lowman Narrator (). cover image of Nightshade · Nightshade. Nightshade Series. Book 1. Andrea Cremer Author (). cover image of Nightshade. Nightshade. Nightshade Series. Book 1. Michelle Rowen Author Cynthia Holloway Narrator.
fjkd9lenb - Get book Nightshade (Nightshade #1, Nightshade World #4) by Andrea Cremer. Full supports all version of your device, includes PDF, ePub and Kindle version. All books format are mobile-friendly. Read and download online as many books as you like for personal use. Simply FREE SIGN-UP for 7-day. How to read Nightshade (Nightshade #1; Nightshade World #4) by Andrea Cremer online and download? Simply FREE SIGN UP and get 7-day trial to read Nightshade (Nightshade #1; Nightshade World #4) by Andrea Cremer and download Nightshade (Nightshade #1; Nightshade World #4) by Andrea Cremer PDF EPub. Nightshade (Tome 1) - Lune de sang (ISBN ) by Andrea Cremer available for sale on ISBN Author: Andrea Cremer. Length: pages. Format: EPUB. Publisher: Gallimard Jeunesse. File Size: KB. Language: French.

domain: library


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On the latest episode of Hemmer Time, Bill sits down with Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, Kyle Kondik, to talk about their predictions for the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election on November 2nd.
On this episode of Hemmer Time, Bill speaks with the Host of “Justice With Judge Jeanine”, Jeanine Pirro, to talk about the death Gabby Petito.
On this episode of Hemmer Time, Bill sits down with Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst to talk about his experiences on the ground in Kabul, Afghanistan.
On the latest episode of Hemmer Time, Bill sits down with Co-Founder and Partner on the investment team at Electric Capital, Avichal Garg, to break down Bitcoin.
On the latest Hemmer Time podcast, Bill sits down with former CIA Station Chief, Dan Hoffman, to discuss the current state of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
This week on Hemmer Time, Bill sits down with Co-Founder of Constructive Ethnic Studies Group, Elina Kaplan, to discuss CRT in the classroom.
On the latest Hemmer Time podcast, Bill sits down with Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University & former NASA astronaut, Mike Massimino.
On the latest Hemmer Time podcast, Bill sits down Vivek Ramaswamy to discuss his new book Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam.
Bill sits down again with Dr. Marc Siegel to discuss his interview with former CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield.
This week, Bill sits down with expert on China and author of "The Coming Collapse of China”, Gordon G. Chang to discuss COVID-19 and the investigation into its origins.
This week, Bill sits down with contemporary artist and investigative filmmaker, Jeremy Corbell, to discuss the existence of UFOs.
This week, Bill sits down with economist Mark Zandi to discuss the economy in the United States.

domain: news


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In a study from UCLA, scientists suggest that smoking tobacco and vaping electronic cigarettes may increase healthy young people’s risk for developing severe COVID illness.
This is among the first studies to find that not only smoking tobacco but also vaping, may predispose people to increased inflammation and future development of severe COVID-19.
In the study, the team examined blood samples collected before the pandemic from 45 non-smokers, 30 electronic cigarette vapers, and 29 tobacco cigarette smokers.
They measured levels of since-identified proteins that SARS-CoV-2, the virus at the heart of the pandemic, needs in order to replicate. These proteins are ACE2, furin, Ang II, Ang 1–7, IL-6R, sCD163, and L-selectin.
The three latter proteins are collectively regulated in cells by a protein known as ADAM17.
The team found that plasma from healthy young people who smoke tobacco or vape had increased levels of furin, sCD163, and L-selectin over that of non-smokers.
These data suggest that there may be an increased activity of the proteins furin and ADAM17 in the immune cells as well as surface cells, such as those lining the lungs, in healthy young smokers and vapers.
The team says e-cigarette vapers may be at higher risk than non-smokers of developing infections and inflammatory disorders of the lungs.
Electronic cigarettes are not harmless and should be used for only the shortest time possible in smoking cessation, and not at all by non-smokers.
The team says future research with a larger sample size is needed.
The reliance on testing blood plasma rather than tissue samples such as lung cells that are believed to be affected by smoking and vaping also warrants deeper research.
There is a lack of evidence of the role that the ADAM17 proteins may play in severe COVID illness among non-smokers.
If you care about health, please read studies about why Viagra may be useful in treating lung diseases, and how to reverse high blood pressure in the lungs.
The study was conducted by Dr. Theodoros Kelesidis et al and published in the Journal of Molecular Medicine.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.


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Mayoral Patterned polo shirt and plain shorts
Formal shorts with braces by - Mayoral newbornBermuda shorts for a newborn boy. Elasticated waistband with button fastening. Made from 100% cotton fabric. Upturned hem. Moc, decorative front pockets. Patterned design.
Subcribe to back in stock notification
Mayoral short set
Superb quality, lovely fit, and all round good quick service. Will certainly use Mango Tree again for my grandson’s gifts.

domain: design


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A company in Apia may soon be producing packaging for the canneries in American Samoa.
The Managing Director of Wilex Samoa Packaging, Eddie Wilson, says he has been holding talks for sometime with officials of Star Kist Samoa and Samoa Packing regarding this possibility.
The company is hoping to secure a contract to supply the cardboard boxes which cans of wahoo are sold in.
Wilson told the Samoa Observer newspaper that he was expecting to finalise an arrangement with the canneries within the next couple of weeks.
Wilex opened its box making operation in November 2007 and has almost tripled its production level.
He says the proximity of American Samoa and the regular freight service between Samoa and the territory makes this an ideal venture.

domain: economics


Superconducting welding of bulk YBCO is a key technology allowing the fabrication of large, complex-shaped pieces for applications such as levitation, bearings or large magnets. Ideally, the electrical and mechanical properties of welds should be comparable to that of the joint grains. In this paper, we have investigated the correlation between the microstructural, mechanical and critical current density performances of melt-textured -tilt YBCO welds fabricated by the silver welding technique. The hardness reduction across the weld, measured by nanoindentation, correlates linearly with the decrease of intergranular critical current density, measured at 77K and self-field by magnetic Hall mapping. Remarkably, we show that high quality zero-angle welds could be fabricated with unaltered current and hardness performances across the joint, paving the way for the implementation of silver welds in large-scale systems. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.


South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung has reportedly started to push out a security update for the owners of Galaxy S III devices in the UK.
Based on Android 4.1.2, the update is available as build JZO54K and is meant to resolve the security issue previously found to affect Samsung’s Exynos 4210 and 4412 powered devices.
At the moment, it is being pushed to Galaxy S III devices over-the-air, but it should reach other affected models as well in the not too distant future.
The update is available only for devices running stock firmware, it seems. No specific info on when it will be released in other countries has been provided.


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In Gujarat present atmosphere has chaned with bone chilling cold in several districts and rain forecast till 11th January. The current climate in Gujarat has changed. Rainy weather prevails in many districts with freezing cold. The unseasonal rains have been forecast till tomorrow, i.e. till the 11th. The cyclonic circulation created from the southeastern Arabian Sea to northwestern Madhya Pradesh as well as from there to the East Central Arabian Sea has affected many districts of South Gujarat. The highest rainfall of 2.87 inches was recorded in Dadiapada of Narmada district on Saturday and 1.29 inches in Umarpada of Surat district. Meanwhile, light to moderate rains in 15 talukas of the state have raised concerns among farmers.
Torrential downpour in Dediyapada taluka of Narmada district rained about 3 inches on Saturday from 6 am to 3 pm. Torrential rains have caused severe damage to crops of farmers in the area. Apart from it, 1.5 inches of unseasonal rain was recorded in Umarpada of Surat and 5.5 inches in Gurudeshwar of Narmada.
The low-lying areas were flooded due to heavy downpour. Due to unseasonal rains, the condition of farmers has become dire. Ready crops, including cotton, have suffered a lot.
Amidst the forecast of unseasonal rains in South Gujarat, for the second day in a row, areas including Tapi district including Vyara, Songadh, Dolwan, Nizar, Uchhal received rains. Scattered showers were also reported in scattered areas during day and night. There are fears of damage to caraway seeds, pigean pea, mung and vegetable crops due to unseasonal rains. It has been raining for two days and the world is in a state of anxiety.
According to the meteorological department, ‘Cyclonic circulation will lead to light to moderate rains in some districts of South Gujarat while cloudy weather will prevail in some parts of the state. Rain is forecast in Dahod, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, Dang, Narmada, Valsad, Tapi, Navsari, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli on Sunday. On Monday, Dang, Valsad, Navsari, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli may receive light to moderate rains with thunderstorms.
The temperature in Ahmedabad will be around 14 degrees for 2 days today and tomorrow. Possibility of mercury falling below 12 degrees has been expressed by the Meteorological Department.


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Latest Cleft lip and palate Stories
Weill Cornell researchers report development and use of new mouse model that could show the way to new treatments and prevention strategies for cleft lip and cleft palate in humans Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College used genetic methods to successfully repair cleft lips in mice embryos specially engineered for the study of cleft lip and cleft palate. The research breakthrough may show the way to prevent or treat the conditions in humans. Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the...
- A murmuring sound; a rushing or whistling sound, like that of the wind; a deep sigh.
- A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
- Any rumor that engages general attention.
- A cant or whining mode of speaking, especially in preaching or praying; the chant or recitative characteristic of the old Presbyterians in Scotland.
- To make a rushing, whistling, or sighing sound; emit a hollow murmur; murmur or sigh like the wind.
- To breathe in or as in sleep.
- To utter in a whining or monotonous tone.

domain: biology


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Since the launch of HYPE MUSIC eight months ago, we’ve been dreaming of the day we’d get to shout about one of our artists landing a major label deal. Apparently dreams come true even for bad boys and troublemakers… We are stoked and proud to announce that Wallpaper. has been signed to Epic Records by Mr. L.A. Reid, himself!
Wallpaper.’s front man, Ricky Reed, one of the most daring yet brilliant minds in music today, was called into a late night meeting with the other Reid, back in early December. Between Ricky’s sleazy yet profound lyrics and dangerously catchy beats, Epic’s newest Chairman and CEO saw the same superstar power we did and made an honest man out of the Bay area whiz kid.
Joining the likes of Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Natasha Bedingfield, a deal with the Sony subsidiary all but guarantees that Wallpaper. gains the attention they deserve as a rambunctious, yet hard-working group, with infectious lyrics and beats; not to mention an on-stage presence that gets even the too-cool-for-school kids dancing. Keep an eye and ear out for this animated (literally) act as 2012 shapes up to be nothing less than EPIC. (Shameless, we know…)
For more info about the deal check out these articles:

domain: artistic


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ISLAMABAD, Oct 07 (APP): A day after the government issued an ordinance to rectify legal lacunas in the NAB law, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib Thursday defended the move saying the reforms were a true reflection of the government’s strong commitment to strengthening the state institutions under the Parliamentary democracy.
Addressing a news conference here, he said earlier, the law was silent in case of deadlock on the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.
Now, the President of Pakistan would initiate dialogue with both the leaders of the House for the appointment and the matter would be referred to the Parliamentary committee in the case of deadlock.
“We have followed the constitution in this matter… if there is an issue regarding the appointment of the Election Commissioner and deadlock emerges, the matter is referred to the Parliamentary committee.
The same will happen in the case of NAB chairman’s appointment. So, we have strengthened and given respect to the Parliament as the opposition used to demand,” the minister maintained.
The minister was flanked by Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Maleeka Bokhari.
“Is the addition of Parliamentary committee in the NAB law really frustrated them,” he questioned while recalling the opposition’s previous demand of closing down the anti-graft watchdog.
The amendments in the NAB law are comprehensive,” he said stressing the main aim was to strengthen the NAB and fast-track the ongoing accountability process in line with the Parliamentary norms.
About the presser of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior leadership on the ordinance, he said there was a reason why they seemed perturbed in the news conference.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others were facing corruption charges and they are the same people who were at the forefront in presenting 34 amendments, worked out by the opposition for reforms in the NAB.
He said implementation of the amendments, proposed by the opposition, was tantamount to make the anti-graft watchdog ‘toothless’ and ‘powerless’.
Those amendments were nothing, but NRO-like concessions for the opposition, he asserted, citing one of the sections which stated that embezzlement of over Rs one billion should not fell under the purview of corruption.
“For me, corruption is corruption either this is amounting to Rs 100,000 or ten million or 100 million or millions and billions,” he said while pointing out the binding obligation of the oath taken by all for not resorting to raising their assets while being into the power.
In those amendments, the opposition also demanded pardon of the whole corruption they committed during the 1990s, he said adding it was regrettable that how were the corruption-tainted people who used to glorify their actions lecturing the government on accountability subject.
Those whose leadership had a habit of seeking NROs in the past should not guide the government on accountability as the elimination of corruption was never been part of past governments’ priorities, he said while chiding those who were criticizing the ordinance on NAB.
Farrukh said the critics of the ordinance should feel ashamed on bringing Protection of Economic Reform Act 1992 and apologized too because it was the biggest robbery done by the Sharif family in the daylight.
About consultation with the opposition on the NAB chairman appointment, he said the entire Sharif family was facing corruption charges and some of them were even convicted. The consultations with PML-N on the matter were tantamount to ask the thief to whom he would like to be his Investigating Officer.
He said the opposition parties’ leadership had no match with Prime Minister Imran Khan who submitted a complete money trail in the court along with multiple documents to prove his honesty.
“PM Imran is committed to rooting out corruption and the government would not backtrack from its accountability process,” he maintained.


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HELENA ISLAND, S.C. — In the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry sits a small island community whose size and stature belies its tremendous history and rich culture.
The story of St. Helena Island is rooted in America’s Reconstruction Era and runs through the Civil Rights Movement, arching from Martin Luther King Jr. to former President Barack Obama. Northern abolitionists founded the Penn School here to teach formerly enslaved laborers.
Today, it’s the center of Gullah-Geechee culture and community in the Lowcountry — a term that refers to the descendants of enslaved African-Americans in the coastal plains and islands of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The art, cuisine and spirituality of the Gullah-Geechee blend West African and Southern influences, and they speak the creole language of Gullah. Closeness to the land, said St. Helena farmer and community leader Sara’ Reynolds Green, is a defining characteristic of the Gullah community.
But that cherished relationship is being threatened as islands like St. Helena see increasing development, and knowledge of Gullah traditions dies out with Gullah elders and families who have lived on the island for generations loose large swaths of land at county delinquent tax sales, Green said.
Her family has owned their land since 1863, when her great-grandfather Robert Green bought 10 acres to pass onto the next generation. The land is an example of “heirs’ property” — land passed through generations of Gullah families, usually without clear title or will.
The lack of title can lead to confusion over who is responsible for taking care of the land and paying the taxes, which is how many of the properties end up at tax auctions. This year, Green has led an effort to raise funds for St. Helena families who are delinquent on their property taxes. And, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and other land preservation advocates called on state leadership to delay the sale to give people more time to pay off their taxes. The tax sale did not get delayed from its Oct. 5 date, but thanks to legislation signed into state law in early October, property owners who lost land in the 2019 delinquent tax sale now have an extra year to redeem their property due to the special circumstances of this year. Normally, property owners have a year and a day from the date of the tax sale to redeem their property if they can pay for it.
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At the tax sale, 56 properties across St. Helena Island sold for a total of $602,218.76. Altogether, they owed $48,041.75.
The amount owed had been dropping every day as property owners came up with the funds on their own or got relief from nonprofits and fundraisers.
Tax sales offer potential buyers the opportunity to purchase large amounts of land for relatively cheap.
“As a Gullah person, I believe that our history and our culture is so important, a treasure,” Green said. “Treasures are to be maintained, and protected, and preserved — not just preserved, but to thrive, and to become as much a part of the community as they can. I don’t see where we are being treasured … and that bothers me, because I think our presence on this island is the foundation of the island, and if your foundation is weak, then the rest of the island is weak as well.”
Riverfront mansions and specialty food shops dot the marshy landscape, capturing a community at a unique point in time — not completely within the grip of development like some of its neighbors but certainly not immune to it. Narrow roads hold the balance on St. Helena, cutting between pastel estates on one side of the street and mobile homes on the other.
“Many outsiders don’t embrace the culture,” Green said. “They have chosen to be here. We were brought here.”
The easy and slow way of life marketed to readers of travel magazines is far from a reality for many St. Helena residents. Workers lack public transportation, options for jobs and living wages, but the average income on the island is driven up by wealthier, older people who move in.
Fortunately, Green said, she knows some people who have moved in who have embraced the Gullah identity of the island instead of turning away from it.
“As our community starts working together as a unit, we will build this community and make a lasting community and a very fruitful community for all,” she said. “And not just for some.”
Kate Hidalgo Bellows covers workforce and livability issues for the Island Packet. This dispatch is part of a series called “On the Ground” with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Follow her on Twitter: @katebellows.

domain: sociology


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NBA seasons are long. Even with the new scheduling tweaks designed to produce more rest and fresher players, there will be a bunch of duds, not 82 gems. The Raptors-Spurs Friday tilt was one of those duds, although Dwane Casey and Kyle Lowry greatly enjoyed the sturdy defensive effort a Raptors group that had been leaking a bit lately brought to the table.
In 10 January games the team has given up at least 110 points six times (granted two of the contests went to overtime). That’s not anywhere close to good enough for a group that has designs of making a long playoff run. The good news is Toronto has now held opponents to 91 points or fewer in three of the past six games (yes San Antonio was severely depleted, but they still held noted Raptor-killer LaMarcus Aldridge to 6-for-25 shooting and the Spurs hit only five three-pointers on 20 attempts).
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Lowry looks to be all the way back, with the rust from his return now shaken off. Lowry has stepped it up as the initial defender, but the difference is most notable on offence. He’s still working within the parameters of the new offence, but this is a hybrid Lowry, a more aggressive Kyle than we’ve seen for most of the season. While his free throw rate is still the lowest of his career, his ability to draw fouls and get to the line has seen a large uptick recently. Lowry went to the line seven times total over the three games prior to his injury. Since, he’s gone six, five and five times. His free throw rate has roughly tripled from the first six games of the season when he struggled to figure out how to get the most out of himself in the new offence. The rate has gone up about 20% from November and December too.
OG Anunoby continues to be missing in action offensively (he went 0-for-7 from the field and has two points over the past three games combined since his 17-point breakout against Golden State) but he still showed flashes. That was likely the most intriguing 0-for-7 you will see. It’s definitely the most athletic he’s looked. He appears to be getting stronger and more explosive as he continues to recover from last year’s knee injury. He had five rebounds and two steals in only 19 minutes and looked strong defensively. The offence is an issue and the Raptors need more from him, but the rookie is contributing in many other areas.
Speaking of looking a bit “springier,” all of a sudden C.J. Miles is leaping off the floor the way he used to when he was a young pup in Utah. He is showing some bounce. Like everybody not named Lowry, DeRozan or Valanciunas, Miles struggled with his jumper against San Antonio, but he contributed in other areas, hitting the boards hard. It’s a good sign because the team also needs much more from its sharp-shooter than just watching him launch jump shots.
The tip was moved up by half an hour as part of the scheduling tweaks mentioned earlier. With the Raptors completing a back-to-back Saturday night in Minneapolis, it gave them a bit more rest time ahead of the trip (and the 9 p.m. ET tip in Minny didn’t hurt either).
Getting a lot of questions on the approaching NBA trade deadline and Toronto’s role in it. Everybody loves to speculate, but would advise to not get your hopes up. Will get into this more in the coming weeks, but basically, the reasons why it would be stunning if Toronto made any move of consequence are:
1 – The team is hard-capped, meaning it can’t take on much salary (somewhere around $5 million is what they could comfortably add.)
2 – Norman Powell can’t be traded until after this season because of NBA rules governing veteran extensions like the one Powell signed. He can’t be dealt for six months from when he signed.
3 – They already gave up two first round picks and a couple of seconds to get Serge Ibaka, P.J. Tucker and get rid of DeMarre Carroll. Good, sustainable organizations don’t deal away all kinds of cheap, long-term assets. This front office isn’t dumb. They’d likely deal more future seconds, but teams will first demand a first for anything of quality.
4 – Valanciunas is a throwback centre and there is no market for those players right now, even though he has played some of the best two-way basketball of his career in recent weeks.
1 – Kyle Lowry
2 – Jonas Valanciunas
3 – DeMar DeRozan

domain: sports


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Well, as we approach a new year I have approached a minor milestone myself. This will be my 200th blog! If you’re wondering why the tallyon the channel is so far off, it’s because there is a lot from TGWTG where Istarted which I never copied (and for the moment, never will). For the record,this does not include my wonderful collab with Les which I hope to do more ofand also omits a few others for personal reasons (updates, etc.). My first blogwas written on August 25, 2011 and it has been a fun ride. Sure there have beensome misses along the way like my Do You Know? series which never wentanywhere, but overall the experience has been a positive one. I am thankful forthe loyal friends who support and encourage my work.
I do sometime wonder if I am good enough here, I see so manygreat things on here and wonder I I will ever reach the point where I am not soâ€œamateurishâ€. But then again I am always hard on myself, though I may be reaching the point where it is time to go to the next step, but video reviewswould be very tough for me to pull off. So for now, we stick to what Iloveâ€¦writing! I just may have to change what it is I write about.
But for now we have a milestone to celebrate, and I promise that is it for the self-loathing. Â So what should I do for this auspicious occasion? I have decided to do something kind of personal and discuss my all time favorite TV shows. The shows I didn’t just liked, but flat out adored!
â€œPeople’s reactions to opera the first time they see it isvery dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they willalways love it. If they don’t, they may learn to appreciate it, but it willnever become part of their soul.â€â€¦.Edward (Pretty Woman). Why am I sharing this quote which is one of my favorite movie lines ever? Because while I never loved opera I feel that TV and movies have the same impact. Loving a TV show from thefirst time you see it is very different than learning to appreciate it later on(although there are exceptions as youâ€™ll see).
While I have never outright stated my favorite shows, if youread my stuff than you know what they are. But why are they my favorite shows? What makes me cherish them more than others? What makes me watch them every day(if I can) and never tire of them? Here are my all-time favorite televisionshows. But since these are not real shocks, what I want to do is try to explainwhat makes them my favorite shows beyond the fact that they are funny and wellwritten. For some it is memories, for others it there is just something specialabout the characters which take the show to another level.
First, some quick honorable mentions. I like these shows butI canâ€™t say I loved them. ER, Whoâ€™s The Boss?, The Big Bang Theory, Knight Rider, Family Ties, andÂ Will & Grace just to name a few.Â There are also those shows I never watched that some may wonder where they are. Like Dr.Who, TheSimpsons, or Marriedâ€¦With Children. Sorry just never got into them. Family Guy?Yuck! One show that almsot made this list is Alf. Monday nights with Alf followed by The Hogan Family were a special memory, but I decided it just wasn’t enough t qualify for this list. Night Court would have made it, if they hadn’t ruined the show with those awful last three seasons!
Now to the shows I really love. These are in no particular order.
You Canâ€™t Do That on Television
I have talked about this in depth before so will keep it short and sweet. I loved this show as a kid. Sure I was a fan of He-Man and theMasters of the Universe as well as other cartoons, but this show was somethingspecial. I really think you had to be the right age when it was on to get it.If you were too old it seemed stupid, and younger people watching it may lookat it and wonder what the big deal was when compared to newer thingsNickelodeon has today. This show was just great, and not because of the oldjokes or green slime but because of the kid actors who made up the cast. Theywere kids who were very likable, and you felt like you were hanging out withfriends when you watched. When I watch an episode today, itâ€™s like catching upwith old friends all over again. Yeah I know it sounds corny but thatâ€™s howspecial this show was to me. It also has a lot to do with the now late Canadianactor Les Lye who did a fantastic job as the only adult male in the cast. Heportrayed so many recurring characters, most of which I loved and had to see atleast once an episode. If youâ€™ve never heard of him look him up, he was a truetalent.
Americaâ€™s Funniest Home Videos
I havenâ€™t talked about this much, so here we go. I realizet his show is still on today, but I am not talking about the version we havenow. I am talking about the original version starring Bob Saget. I know whatpeople say about him, I know I will never forget the first time I saw his standupact. My jaw dropped to the floor. However, he was really well suited for thisshow and did a great job in my opinion. Why am I talking about this? This showwas a big deal for me growing up. This was what we watched Sunday night at 7,for about six years anyway. Solid Gold was like this in the 80â€™s but I donâ€™thave many memories of that show. AMHV was different. Â I loved the show because in the age way beforereality TV and social media, it was easy to forget there were other people inthe world. This show gave us a small window which reminded us that there werepeople out there, and doing something like tripping and falling happens to thebest of us. As for the Tom Bergeron version we have today, yeah I have watchedit but the classic version is and will always be my favorite. By the way, Igrew up in the Boston area so knew Tom Bergeron loonng before the rest of thecountry did, I used to enjoy his local talk show all the time here (thatdoesnâ€™t mean I can stand Dancing with the Stars, just saying). Oh, and FullHouse is not on this list because it was more of a guilty pleasure even thoughI liked Saget in that also.
Everybody Loves Raymond
I could list the reasons for me to hate this show. Ray is ahorny idiot, Debra is a huge witch, and the format is very confining as we have entire episodes which basically never leave the house. I also discovered this show late, not watching it until the third season. But when I did I discovered something very interesting. While the characters were not altogether likable,there was something familiar about them. My family is a tad dysfunctional, andI see so much of them in the characters on this show. My father could be a pain about things and was always yelling like Frank. My grandmother is so similar to Marie that it is downright eerie. And maybe I know how Ray feels,just trying to keep everyone happy but never succeeding. Not only are the characters familiar but the stories are to. The episodes are very small, and Ilike that. One episode is about the daughter getting picked on, thatâ€™s it.Another episode is about Frank having to renew his license because he isgetting older and canâ€™t see when he drives. Another episode is all about Debra hogging the bed. We have all had experiences like these and it is these simple little slices of life are what make me love the show, because it reminds us ofwhen they happened to us and that is a really special thing. Have you everremembered something you havenâ€™t thought about in years? You always end upsmiling and this is what this show does even if the characters are not the most likable.
This is the first sitcom I ever loved, and I mean that sincerely, even though I watched it in re-runs since I was hardly born when itstarted. To put simply, I loved this show. For those who don’t know, this was aspin-off of the successful “Soap” which ran in the 70’s. It starred Robert Guillaume as Benson and he worked in the governorâ€™s mansion in somenever named state. The governor had a big heart but was a bit dim witted. There was also the German Ms. Kraus who was at odds with Benson from the start, the self-centered chief of staff Clayton, who was played but Rene Auberjonois years before Star Trek-DS9, Missy Gold as the governorâ€™s daughter (and sister to Growing Painsâ€™ Tracy Gold) and Pete played by Ethan Philips years before StarTrek-Voyager. This show was simply funny, especially the one liners that Bensonwould quip. He always had a comment or an insult ready. Sure there were badepisodes here or there and some got downright silly. But what made me love thisshow? There was something about the characters which made me really care about them. I wish I could explain what, especially since these were not the most fleshed out characters ever. They were cartoons in many ways to be honest. Butyou really cared for them. When Caroline McWilliams left the show, her character Marcy had a huge emotional sendoff which was almost unprecedented fora TV series. But it worked because we really cared about these people, so much so that I used to imagine episodes set after the series concluded, I wanted to know what happened to these people and since the creators chose to never show us I created my own episodes in my head. This was before I wrote stuff down unfortunately.
The Cosby Show
Everyone has that show that they grew up with. While I did watch re-runs of The Brady Bunch as a kid (a lot!) this show was something special. When the series premiered in 1984 I did not know it was coming. I was ten, and didn’t pay attention to things like the new fall lineup. One night I was looking through the TV Guide and saw a beautiful ad for this great new show starring Bill Cosby. I already liked Bill Cosby from his work in children’s programming and the comedy film â€œBill Cosby…Himselfâ€ which you have to see ifyou haven’t. I have seen it a hundred times and still laugh at it. So I decided to turn this new show on, I watched the premiere episode, and loved it! It was simply one of the funniest things ever. I just remember laughing so hard (do you remember anything you laughed at in 1984? Ok, Ghostbusters is a good example). This was my first “water cooler” show, except I talkedabout it in school the next day. When this show premiered I was in the 4thgrade. I used to watch it every Thursday night with my brother, we both loved it. The first two or three seasons especially were so great, I cherished every episode so much I made recorded them all on VHS. Yes I have the DVDâ€™s today. The show was there right through junior high and high school, and I graduated from high school almost the same night the show finally went off the year in 1992.This show was a major part of my childhood, and will always be special to me even though there were bad episodes and even seasons.Â In fact this series was the only time I wished my family was like the one I saw on TV, after the episode where the family shows Theo what the â€œreal worldâ€ is like (â€œTheoâ€™s Holidayâ€;). I have seen that one a thousand times, it may be the favorite half hour of television ever.Never seen the episode? Go see it!
Star Trek-The Next Generation
Yeah this one isn’t a sitcom, but it’s also not a shock either. My first real exposure to Star Trek was the movies, which I liked but without the context of the original series I missed a lot. I watched the original series as a kid, but didn’t get the stories really. Then the announcement was made-a new Star Trek series! I wish I could convey the excitement that generated, and the eager anticipation of it mixed with shockthat it would not involve the original cast. It’s funny; my mother was a fan ofclassic Trek and reacted in horror to TNG much the same way I am appalled bythe JJ Abrams reboot movies. Anyway, when this show finally took off it wasreally something special. I fell in love with the characters, which was the onething missing from the three later shows. Yeah the stories could be interesting and there was action, but I never really cared for the characters quite the wayI did with TNG. I loved Data and Riker and Wesley…no, I hated Wesley too. I hated Picard at first, but he grew on me. When the series went off the air in1994, I was absorbed in the hype surrounding the finale and, as you probablyknow, the final episode is just one of my favorite episodes of anything I haveever seen. Also like The Cosby Show this is one show which my brother and Ishared a love for, which brings back some nice memories. I watched this show onre-runs every night until fairly recently, and just adored every episode (ok that’s a lie, there were some horrible episodes). What else can I say? I am a story person more than an action person, and maybe that is why this show appealed to me since it was more cerebral than action oriented. But more than that, the characters were strong and I adored them.
The Brady Bunch
Do I really need to say more? You either hate this show or love it, and I loved it. I watched it over and over as a kid and never got bored with it. What is wrong with a happy family on TV? I never got why so many people hate it, why would you rather watch a horrible family who doesnâ€™t get along? As I said a few weeks ago the reputation this show has is a little unfair, the kids did not smile every second of every episode and while theproblems were simple, the focus was on the kids and when youâ€™re a kid itâ€™s the little things that seem like the end of the world! Ok, before this becomes a full rantI will stop here. The show is simple and sweet, and I love it to this day. â€œItâ€™sthe story, of a man named Bradyâ€¦..â€
Duh, right? The reason I love this show is similar to that of The Cosby Show, but even more so. Like Cosby this show was a major part of my life after high school. Though I do remember watching when this show first came on and I was in school. But this show was there through college and marriage and there are tons of memories watching this show with friends and later my wife. But what makes it more so than Cosby? Because this show was much more consistent in quality, and relatable in its premise. The Cosby Show hadmany episode especially later on which were so boring or not funny. This show always delivered, even in its later years. I don’t want to go to long because Ithink I said all there is to say after I reviewed every single episode last year, but everything about this show worked from the writing to the situations to the characters which we loved even if they weren’t the nicest people. Is ita perfect show? Well, maybe not but it is darn close in my book.
I hesitated putting this on here, because I came into this show really late. I hated Tim Allen, so much that it kept me away from this show. I had the same problem with Roseanne, but Roseanne I only learned to appreciate while Home Improvement I grew to really love. Yeah the gags about Tim blowing things up every episode got old after a while, but what was really behind this series was a family show. In case you havenâ€™t guessed by now, those are the types of show I love. I think it comes from coming from a family whichwas not the happiest; it was nice to be with one on TV for a half hour or so.It was pure escapism (and may help to explain why not one drama appears here).So if you forget the Tool Time gags and Tim being an idiot and look at the stories, you see the same thing I saw in The Brady Bunch, Cosby, and Raymond.Stories about a family and their everyday struggles, and it was done with just enough humor that it worked. I also noted back on Motherâ€™s Day that Jill Tayloris one of my favorite sitcom mothers because she was allowed to be imperfect,with flaws and insecurities that you donâ€™t often see in sitcom parents. By the way, after this, Galaxy Quest, and The Santa Clause I am much easier on Tim Allen these days.
What is it about this show that I just love? Is it the relatable characters? Is it the very funny lines? Is it the fact that we have all been where these people are in our lives? I am not sure, but I simply loved this show and I couldn’t get enough of it. The fact that it could go ten years and still be fresh and funny with the exact same cast it started with is just remarkable. I think this show hit all the points I listed.Â Like the others this show was around for a large part of my life, this time starting in college and right through my married years. I was the age these characters were for the most part, which made this very relatable in a timely way. Also I loved the characters, not enough to write my own episodes but I loved how the characters were allowed togrow and evolve rather than stay exactly the same week after week. And thestories were good, the episodes always had three so even if one story wasboring there was another which would be interesting and that made the show worth watching.
I love this show so much; I have decided that it is going to be my focus as I return my Analytical Episode Guide next week. This year itwill be Friends! I know many people donâ€™t share my love for this show, but thatâ€™s cool. Maybe this will be a chance to change some minds or open adiscussion about the problems. Just because I love it doesnâ€™t mean everyone has to, and I always welcome different opinions. Â I will get into this more later, but the format will be slightly changed because, well, Friends was a different showthan Seinfeld. I also will try to do more than one a week (or maybe more thanfive per article) because this show ran 10 seasons and, frankly, I am not interested in working on this until next October!
But I hope you will check it out and my other ideas I have coming which include a couple new top 5 lists one which discusses another showI loved which is not on this list and seems like it has been missed by so many.
That’s where we are as we approach 2013.
Oh, I almost forgotâ€¦.HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

domain: entertainment