The Chicago Auto Show’s return to McCormick Place could be summed up with one word: electric.
It’s the coming wave of wheels — sales of EVs made up about 2.6% of the U.S. auto market in 2021, and is expected to climb to 4% in 2022, according to Edmunds.
Many models on display were electrified versions of the most popular cars in America. Ford showed off the first electrified version of the U.S.’s most popular-vehicle, the Ford F-150. Chevrolet also debuted its new electric Silverado, the second most popular vehicle in the U.S.
Kia rolled two new products, the EV6 and EV9, the latter of which is a concept car — an all-electric SUV with an estimated range of 300 miles per charge. Subaru, in a display that was made to look like a national park, showed off its brand new Solterra, a new crossover electric SUV.
Toyota also released the Rhombus, whose look might make you do a double take. The battery-powered vehicle features a swivel seat that can turn around and look at a lounge-area for other passengers.
The newest features weren’t all EV related, though. Hyundai debuted a new line of vehicles that feature sensors that will automatically lock your vehicle if you’re inside it and someone approaches, and detectors that keep you from forgetting pets or children inside.
The auto show featured a number of non-electric vehicles as well. Most notably, Ford rolled out a whole new line of Broncos, and debuted the new Bronco Everglade with a snorkel for its engine, so it doesn't get waterlogged while off-roading.


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With the Summer on its way, over time the air conditioning system fitted to your vehicle can reduce in efficiency and cause a bad smell due to bacteria build up in the system.
Southwest Nissan is offering an Air Condition Inspection and Refresh for only £39.99.
Our manufacturer trained technicians will conduct a test of the minimum air temperature and complete an ultrasonic anti-bacterial clean ** of the air conditioning system. This will kill off bacteria growing in the system behind the dash board & eliminate bad smells, leaving a pleasant refreshing odour in the car after treatment..
It is recommended that this test and treatment is completed at least every 2 years. This inspection and treatment will add approx. 30 minutes to the work schedule of your vehicle.
This treatment is superior to an aerosol treatment as it utilises an ozone machine to nebulize the liquid to less than 5 microns to ensure that it accesses all areas of the system.
** The efficiency of the product against bacteria and fungi has been tested according to the standards: NEN-EN 13623; NEN-EN 1040; NEN-EN 1275; NEN-EN 1276; NEN-EN 1650; NEN-EN 13697 (clean surface and contaminated surface), for the following micro-organisms: Legionella pneumophila (1); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2); Escherichia coli (3); Staphylococcus aureus (4); Enterococcus hirae (5); Candida albicans (6); Aspergillus niger (7).The efficiency of the preparation has been demonstrated after a contact time of maximum 15 minutes, except for NEN-EN 13697 (contaminated surface) where the bactericide effect on (3) and (4) has been demonstrated after 60 minutes contact time.

domain: chemistry


The German group Blutengel (Blood Angel) were founded by singer Chris Pohl, after contractual and legal problems forced him to exit the popular German band Seelenkrank. An electronica pop group with goth overtones, the band has gone through a few member changes while sticking to a configuration of one male and two female singers. They sing in German and in English, with lyrics exploring love, passion, and romance in highly dramatic tones. The original two female singers were photographer and singer Nina Bendigkeit (another Seelenkrank alumni) and Katie Roloff. Bendigkeit left after the debut album, Child of Glass, was released to modest club success in 1999, to devote time to her growing success as a photographer. It was an amicable parting, as Bendigkeit would later work on the band's publicity materials; she was replaced as a vocalist by Gini Martin. The next album, Seelenschmerz, continued to develop the band's fan base in Germany, with several singles garnering airplay; it was enough for Pohl and the group to finally perform live, and their debut performance was for 10,000 fans at a festival in Leipzig. The success strained relationships in the band, and in 2001 both Roloff and Martin left Blutengel to found the group Tristesse de la Lune, stating that Pohl's leadership had become overbearing. They were replaced by Eva P÷lzing and session singer Constance Rudert.


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U.S. retail sales for the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving jumped 10.9 percent from last year's levels, ShopperTrak RCT's National Retail Sales Estimate (NRSE) reported. After a 12.3 percent year-on-year gain on Friday, sales jumped another 9 percent on Saturday, it said, adding that the two-day average sales growth more than doubled the year-to-date trend of 5 percent. According to the NRSE, the two-day total level of sales (at a daily rate) was $12.6 billion vs. $11.4 billion spent on those two post-Thanksgiving days in 2001. On Saturday, sales were the strongest in both the South and Midwest, up 10 percent, followed by the West, up 9 percent. The Northeast trailed with 6-percent sales growth. "The 2002 holiday season got off to a good start, which should lift retail industry confidence," said Michael Niemira, lead consultant for the NRSE. "Nevertheless, most of the season is still ahead, and the industry will have its work cut out to continue to build upon this strong start," Niemira added.
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domain: finance


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Facing the Reality of Covid-19 is Less Scary Than Wishful Thinking
Donald Trump continues to deceive his followers with false hope — “a vaccine before you know it” is his latest ruse
The happy talk from the White House is hurting Americans who are being led to expect miracles, like a vaccine by Fall, rather than face the challenges head on. With thousands of people dying every day, cases climbing across the country, and an economy frozen for lack of a commitment to a safe reopening plan, false hope isn’t our friend.
The idea that the end is in sight, that the economy is ready to rebound, and we are close to having packed Alabama football games, will prolong the virus, the death toll, and our misery.
It is true that two vaccines are in human trials. But we need to tell the difference between hopes and prayers, and things we should plan on. We make many wrong decisions by thinking in terms of weeks and months, instead of a year or years.
If you listen to Tony Fauci, who leads vaccines for the NIH, he always adds the words “best case” to his answers. And when Trump is not around, Fauci follows “best case” with “12–18 months”. Meaning we could still be working against this enemy in 2022.
It’s true that there is a vaccine in human trials in the US and it’s true we could even be in parallel manufacturing soon — while we wait to test it. But it’s also true that this company has never made a vaccine before and that their type of vaccine (RNA) is promising, but new.
Injecting the virus in hundreds of millions must be done safely. And importantly, even if the vaccine works, it’s dosing is safe, and it’s side effects minimal, the immunity could potentially be 30–40% like a flu vaccine, not 97% like measles. Sadly the vaccine likely won’t be available to everyone including some of the people who need it most — like people with significant immune system issues. A combination of a partially effective vaccine and many being excluded could mean social distancing significantly into the future beyond a vaccine.
There are 6 other vaccines in process but of the seven, only two of the developers have actually made a vaccine before — Pfizer & Sanofi. These will take longer…

domain: news


Earlier this week, former Attorney General Eric Holder called for the abolition of the electoral college because it is "undemocratic" and "forces candidates to ignore majority of the voters and campaign in a small number of states." In a New York Times op-ed, columnist Jamelle Bouie echoes all of the above and hopes that Holder's argument becomes a main topic among Democrats running for president. "The Electoral College routinely threatens or produces perverse outcomes, where the will of the voters is thwarted by an ill-considered 18th-century electoral device," writes Bouie. "It has no place in a democracy that strives for a standard of 'one person, one vote.'" It's also the reason Donald Trump is president instead of Hillary Clinton, he writes, and the reason Trump might win again in 2020.
Bouie runs through the historical origins of the electoral college, along with the failed attempts to replace it over the years with a system based on popular vote. Opponents of the electoral college have nowhere near the support necessary to get an amendment ratified abolishing it, he notes. "The inertia behind the Electoral College is strong, which is why it needs vocal opponents making their case as loudly and often as possible." However, he writes that the movement has, in fact, been gaining ground, with the governor of Colorado promising to join the National Popular Vote interstate compact, and Maine's legislature considering the same move. Click to read the full column, in which Bouie argues that the current system is a "glaring flaw" in our democracy. (Read more electoral college stories.)


For Cells and Sub-cellular Structures – Precise, Contact-Free Cell and Particle Manipulation
Simple and Precise Micro-manipulation
PALM MicroTweezers by ZEISS is an optical tweezers system that allows for precise, contact-free cell manipulation as well as to trap, move, and sort microscopic particles.
With PALM MicroTweezers you manipulate cells and particles in the micro- and sub-micrometer range without contact. The highly focused laser beam allows you to trap, move and sort live cells, organelles and other large biomolecules. A simple mouse click on your target is sufficient to trap it.
You are able to complement PALM MicroTweezers with the Force Measurement software module and with high-end imaging and supplementary technologies from ZEISS, such as live cell imaging systems or PALM MicroBeam for laser microdissection.


Chicago, Illinois –
A family filed a civil rights complaint against public schools in Chicago on Thursday, claiming that their 9-year-old son was beaten at school with a belt.
According to the family's lawyer, Al Hofeld Jr., they want to make sure that this teacher never teaches again. They also want monetary compensation for their son and for it to be transferred to another school.
Jo's family, 9-year-old Maury Champ, filed a civil rights suit against Kristen Haynes, a teacher with the CPS and her 56-year-old friend, Juanita Tyler, in federal court on Thursday.
The alleged incident occurred in September 2018.
Asia Gaines said that his son had been hit by two belts by a stranger while he was at Tilton Elementary School. She said the belts belonged to her son's teacher.
"I am very angry about what happened to my son," said Gaines.
The complaint alleges that Haynes made sure that his childhood friend, Tyler, who is also a distant relative of Jo 'Maury, comes to school and pulls the boy from the classroom to the bathroom and bat dozens of times. The boy met Tyler a few years ago, but for him, she was a stranger.
"The day before the beating, Jo" Maury was laughing with another boy in Mrs. Haynes' class and was having trouble with it, "Hofeld said.
Hofeld said that the next morning, Haynes and Tyler took the boy to a bathroom, and Haynes returned to his classroom.
"The stranger has hit Jo" Maury with the belts about 20 to 30 times in total, "Hofeld said.
When Jo & Maury returned to class, the abuse was not over.
Ms. Haynes then threatened "You'd better be wise because the lady will come back at 1 pm," he said.
Hofeld stated that the two women had been arrested and that Haynes had been reassigned administratively. The Cook County State Attorney's Office stated that Haynes was charged with a battery charge for misdemeanor and a head of endangering a child by a misdemeanor .
The physical wounds have now disappeared, but the mental scars remain, said Jo's mother Maury.
"He can not sleep, he can not eat," said Gaines.
"I think it's wrong, no one should – there should be no teacher to bring in any child, he should be fired," said Rebecca Perkins, one of Tilton's parents.
Hofeld added that neither the CPS nor the school had informed her of Jo's & Maury's parents. The family learned from the young boy.
The complaint also alleges that Haynes was in the habit of using or threatening to use corporal punishment to students.
A spokesperson for CPA released a statement Thursday that every student deserves a safe learning environment.
"All students deserve a safe learning environment and the district will not tolerate actions that expose them to harm." After taking note of allegations of grave concern, the district withdrew the employee from his post and opened a full investigation. "
(Copyright © 2019 WLS-TV, All Rights Reserved.)


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HCMC business premises rents continue downward spiral
Business premises rents in HCMC have fallen by up to 50 percent after the fourth Covid-19 wave started late April, continuing last year’s downward trend.
Townhouses with vacancy signs on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street, District 1, HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Tin.
A VnExpress survey found that many HCMC’s houses whose rents had fallen by 40-50 percent in 2020 saw these fall further this May and June, with tenants asking the landlords for reductions because their businesses had been suffering because of the fourth Covid-19 wave.
The rents of houses on Ky Dong Street in District 3 fell by half over last month. The landlords agreed to reduce house rents to support the tenants whose businesses have been suspended since May 31 when the city launched a social distancing campaign.
Nguyen, who rents a house to his run business at the Hang Xanh intersection in Binh Thanh District, said his landlord lowered the rent by 20 percent in May and 30 percent in June. House rent for July will be renegotiated depending on the Covid-19 situation, he added.
Landlords who own houses in the central area of District 1, including Huynh Thuc Khang, Ho Tung Mau, and Dong Khoi streets have also reduced rents by 20-30 percent starting June.
Meanwhile, many owners of downtown houses in District 1, 3, 5, Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan Districts have been unable to find tenants despite having cut their rent by 20-30 percent.
Mall operators in Binh Thanh district have supported restaurants that rent spaces in shopping malls by reducing their rent by 50 percent starting May until the pandemic is under control. Previously, Binh Thanh District’s mall operators had cut rents by up to 70 percent during previous outbreaks.
Real estate trading site Batdongsan.com.vn has reported that demand for rental homes dropped by 11-18 percent in April over March, while demand for kiosks fell 25 percent.
Trang Minh Ha, chairman of North Star Asia, a company providing human resources training courses and business consulting services, told VnExpress that the average rent cuts in HCMC during May and June was 20-30 percent, with 50 percent the highest cut recorded.
"Houses that are rented out for running businesses have been unable to find tenants due to the previous outbreaks, and are now suffering more from the fourth outbreak," he said.
He expected that the house rents crisis could prolong further, adding that some landlords have refused to lower the rents because they are afraid that their properties will lose value.
He said that cutting down the rent by half, or not collecting rents during the social distancing period was more beneficial for the landlords than leaving the property vacant for a long time.
"Both landlords and leasers should negotiate and support each other to overcome the hardships amid the pandemic, which will reduce losses on both sides," said Ha.
HCMC, home to 13 million people, has so far recorded 1,527 local Covid-19 infections in Vietnam's latest coronavirus wave since late April, having the second-highest number of infections.


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A watercolour study of a rough sea and sky. The sea was saturated in a unique turquoise colour…you’d think it was the Caribbean ocean! Probably the sketch doesn’t do justice to the scene as i saw it.
It just gives you a flavour of what i saw and for me: i remember it so well when i go back to my sketches. Some times i don’t have to write notes….’a picture tells a thousand words’. The pier walls were much darker than here, so the boats colours stood out like neon lights. How the weather can effect the landscape in regards to colour form always fascinates me.
(This sketch study is for sale: €40 unframed)

domain: geography


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ICE announced this week that nationwide arrests were up nearly 40 percent over last year.
Kate Lynn Blatt is the first transgender person to be allowed to sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act for gender dysphoria.
The body camera requirement mandates that the devices be turned on any time police investigate a crime or stop a citizen.
In 2015, at least 35 percent of graduate students at U.S. universities granting graduate degrees in science, engineering and health were foreigners, according to the National Science Foundation.
"Literally, not getting enough quality sleep is putting your career at risk by interfering with your ability to cultivate healthy relationships," writes Rodriguez.
The Youth Ag-Summit will take place Oct. 9-13, 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.
Horvat is chairman of the Works Council of BASF SE and of the BASF Group Works Council.
The widely popular comedian said he regrets rooting for President Donald Trump on a “Saturday Night Live” appearance.
Sheriff David Clarke made the announcement on a radio show, but DHS said that “no such announcement” has been made yet.
Unlike criminal court, people fighting deportation in U.S. immigration courts are not guaranteed the right to an attorney.
Jurors were visibly emotional and some cried when the verdict was read by the judge some nine hours after they began deliberating.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the use-of-force policy changes include new prohibitions on force that is discriminatory or employed as punishment.
Dan Patrick defended the bill, saying: “This has never been about discrimination. It is about common sense, common decency and public safety.”
Sixty-two percent of servicemembers discharged for misconduct during the fiscal years 2011 through 2015 had been diagnosed within the previous two years with conditions including PTSD, traumatic brain injury or another condition.
Wells Fargo is one of the first financial industry services companies to offer the program to veterans.
Big Data is likely to play an increasing role in helping hospitals stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing healthcare industry.
Sodexo has ranked in the DiversityInc Top 10 of nine consecutive years. In this webinar, the company shares how it leverages its ranking to engage with potential recruits, current and prospective clients.
The annual food festival has amplified local businesses and fostered a spirit of entrepreneurship within Harlem in New York City.
A former employee has filed a lawsuit against Robert Mercer, who said the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “infantilized” Blacks by dissuading them from working.
Despite changing demographics in its population, the town’s police department remains majority-white.
The alleged Comey memo caused alarm on Capitol Hill and raised questions about whether Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation.
Judge W. Mitchell Nance said he would refuse to hear cases involving lesbian, gay or bisexual adults hoping to adopt children.
The crowd of onlookers was about evenly divided between statue supporters and opponents.
During a recent case study competition, four teams of diverse performance management professionals competed to develop high-impact, profit-building solutions.


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When we are gone, no more then four days, I leave enough food and water out, for my cats, to keep them going so I don’t have to bother my family or neighbors to come over and feed them.
I did use all the food to fill out 4 bowls of food, and just plain forgot we were out. It was after 11pm when we got home, and I was NOT going out to buy more food.However we had dog food. The cats won’t touch it usually, as the pieces are real big for them. I got an idea! Smash it up in a bag and see if they will eat it!
I was not sure they would, and if they didn’t they were going to just have to wait til the next day to get food as I was way too tired to leave. So I smashed!
Well…success! They ate it
So if you run out of cat food and have some dog food around, just smash it up and feed it to them til you can get more!
Have a great day!

domain: pet


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sweet soy pan-fry caramelized with udon noodles, broccoli carrots and shiitake mushrooms, asian spouts, black sesame and cilantro garnish.
classic tangy rice noodles stir-fry with scrambled egg, carrots and cabbage. Topped with lime, peanuts, Asian sprouts and cilantro.
coconut curry wok tossed with broccoli, carrots, red pepper, onion, mushrooms and a light portion of rice noodles. Served on cabbage with black sesame on top.
fiery peanut sauce and rice noodle stir-fry with broccoli, carrots and cabbage, Asian sprouts, cilantro, crushed peanuts and lime on top.
yellow coconut curry broth with spinach, cabbage, mushrooms, tomato, red onion and rice noodles
sesame-soy dressing on field greens with red pepper, cucumbers, black sesame and crunchy wontons.
spicy tomato cream sauce sauteed with penne pasta, mushrooms, tomato and spinach. Topped with feta or parmesan and italian parsley.
whole grain fettuccine, broccoli, mushrooms, red pepper, onion and garlic sauteed with balsamic and a touch of cream. Topped with parmesan and parsley.
curly pasta sauteed with basil pesto, garlic, mushrooms, tomato and a splash of cream, topped with parmesan and parsley.
balsamic, white wine and roasted garlic sauteed penne pasta with spinach, tomato and red onion, topped with parsley and parmesan or feta.
a rich and zesty tomato soup with a touch of cream, sherry, fresh basil and garlic. Topped with italian parsley.
romaine and spring greens, tomato, cucumbers, red onion, kalamata olives and cavatappi tossed with a creamy garlic dressing, feta on top.
scrumptious blend of cheeses and fresh cream served over tender elbow macaroni, topped with cheddar jack.
sherry cream sauce simmered with fresh herbs and cracked pepper served over sauteed mushrooms and egg noodles. Topped with parmesan.
wavy egg noodles topped with real melted butter, italian seasonings and grated parmesan. Any Size $1 less
classic savory tomato sauce served over penne and topped with parmesan and parsley.
homemade broth with braised chicken celery, carrots, onion and wavy egg noodles.
crisp romaine, field greens and crunch croutons tossed with traditional dressing and topped with parmesan.
seared and lightly seasoned
with light parmesan & italian herb breading
seared beef strips
tender, slow-cooked beef
sauteed tiger shrimp
seasoned and sauteed
mushroom, broccoli, tomatoes, red onion, spinach, etc
parmesan, cheddar-jack or feta
balsamic, sesame say or fat-free asian
chicken & vegetable dumplings (3 or 6)
Menu for Noodles provided by Allmenus.com
DISCLAIMER: Information shown may not reflect recent changes. Check with this restaurant for current pricing and menu information. A listing on Allmenus.com does not necessarily reflect our affiliation with or endorsement of the listed restaurant, or the listed restaurant's endorsement of Allmenus.com. Please tell us by clicking here if you know that any of the information shown is incorrect. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

domain: food


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Symbols on Stuff: T-Shirts Stickers Hats and Gifts > Speaker (BASS) > BASS (Speaker) Tote Bag
BASS (Speaker) Tote Bag
Feel that bass in your face with these bumpin speakers. Ok they don't really play but you can sure make a statement that you love bass music. k?
- Canvas Tote Bag
- Makes a great reusable shopping bag, beach bag or casual purse
- 10 oz heavyweight natural canvas fabric
- Full side and bottom gusset
- 22" reinforced self-fabric handles
- Measures 15" x 18" x 6"
- Machine washable
Drag the square at the left to choose the part of your image you want to use. Tips: Click and drag any corner to resize; click and drag from the inside to move.
Click done if you're happy with the way it looks.

domain: design


Philips Arena Celebrates 15th Anniversary By Announcing Plans To Build Dominique Wilkins Statue
Hawks name Wilkins as Special Advisor to the CEO
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena today announced plans to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Philips Arena and will construct a larger-than-life-size statue of Hawks’ legend Dominique Wilkins. The statue, which is to be unveiled at a special ceremony at Philips Arena on March 5, 2015, will be a symbol of the Hawks’ legend’s success as a player both on and off the court. Details of the statue and the ceremony will be released at a later date.
Additionally, the Hawks have named Wilkins as Special Advisor to CEO Steve Koonin and signed the legend to a new long-term partnership. He will also continue in his role as Vice President of Basketball.
“Being honored by the great City of Atlanta and my beloved Hawks team is incredibly humbling, I have to thank all the fans, the community and the Hawks organization, in particular the Gearon family, Rutherford Seydel and Tommy Dortch, who have been close friends and important figures since the day I was drafted,” said Wilkins. “I look forward to continuing my partnership with the team and the City for many years ahead.”
"There is no player more deserving of such an honor than Dominique for his continued commitment to the Hawks and the City of Atlanta. Beyond his amazing play on the court during his Hall-of-Fame career, he has been an ambassador for this franchise and the city for three decades," Koonin said. "For all he has accomplished and continues to do for the Hawks franchise and the City of Atlanta, we are proud to bestow this permanent recognition of his legacy."
Wilkins is the Hawks’ all-time leading scorer, ranking second in team history in steals, fourth in rebounds, sixth in blocked shots and seventh in assists. The 12th-leading scorer in league history is also a nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk champion (1985, 1990).
Nicknamed ‘The Human Highlight Film’, Wilkins is one of three players in franchise history to have his uniform number (#21) retired, joining Bob Pettit and Lou Hudson. He was named to seven All-NBA teams and won a Gold Medal as a member of the United States World Championship team in 1994. Wilkins starred collegiately at the University of Georgia where he ended his career as the all-time scoring leader with averages of 21.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. A three-time All-SEC performer and Most Valuable Player of the 1981 Southeastern Conference Tournament, he was selected third overall in the 1982 NBA Draft.


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When we think of the seasons, certain colors instantly come to mind, with slight variations depending on experiences, location and culture. Colors invoke feelings. Feelings can be a persuasive tool to grab attention or sell someone a product or idea. Color is an energy.
There are people who study color therapies, but most colors are a general knowledge. When creating your website, color should be an important aspect in the decision making of its creation. For example, if you are building a site that involves healing therapy, a black/gray/red combination might not be the best choice. More like shades of blue and green would be better. People associate yellow with happiness, red for power/confidence, purple for spirituality, and so forth. You get the idea.
So when you have an idea, but not sure of the color code or name, you can spend countless hours googling color palettes… or, you could begin with pre-made collections and go from there. It’s not just one color, it’s usually up to four; main, accents, links, alternative.
A great place to begin is to envision your future website, take in how it makes you feel and what colors you see behind closed eyes. Then head over to Canva’s color combinations and see what jumps out or speaks to your vision. When you find a few you like, the designer can hone it in until you get that awe moment and it is giving you joy.
Color really is part of our world — the clothes we wear, foods we eat (could you imagine eating a purple ham?), and how we decorate/paint the rooms in our home. In case you are looking for color ideas, here is the link to Canva (https://www.canva.com/learn/100-color-combinations/)
Enjoy coloring your world, your way!

domain: artistic


The term pre-dreadnought refers to the last type of battleship before HMS Dreadnought (1906). They were designed and built between about 1890 and 1908.
Pre-dreadnoughts were evolved from earlier turret and barbette ships. A classic example of pre-dreadnought was the Royal Navy's Royal Sovereign class. They were characterized by having a main battery of (typically) four 12-inch (305 mm) guns in two turrets, one fore and one aft, an intermediate battery of a number of guns in the 8- to 10-inch range placed in the superstructure, and a tertiary battery of light, rapid-fire guns for defence against torpedo boats. The mixed armament was ideal for the battle ranges of approximately 3,000 yards that pre-dreadnoughts were designed for. The smaller weapons "smothered" (peppered with holes) the "upper works" (superstructure), while the larger, slow-firing weapons could punch through thick armor to the enemy's "vitals" (engines, magazines).
Sailing rigs had been abandoned in the 1880s, as it became clear that masts, sails, rope and rig added much top weight without any corresponding value in endurance. The stays and guys interfered with clear arcs of fire for the guns, and the whole rig was in danger of falling on the guns with the slightest battle damage. Meanwhile, steam engines had become quite reliable, and so pre-dreadnoughts were powered by the latest triple-expansion engines.
The arrival of a reliable torpedo in the 1890's made short-range battle a hazardous proposition, thus battle ranges perforce increased. At such ranges, hits could be obtained only through slow, deliberate salvo fire in which each salvo was spotted and corrections made. Making spotting corrections from a forest of shell splashes from different calibers was impossible; small projectiles could not penetrate armor at these ranges; and small, rapid-firing guns had to wait for fall of shot (perhaps 15-30 seconds) before firing again, thus giving up their rate of fire advantage. All this pointed to an armament of as many large guns of a single caliber as could be carried.
HMS Dreadnought introduced the concept of the all big-gun battleship, mounting up to 12 large calibre guns. This design made all earlier battleships obsolete overnight - hence the slightly derogatory term "pre-dreadnoughts" for these older battleship, while new "all big gun" designs were termed "dreadnoughts". HMS Dreadnought also introduced the steam turbine into battleship design, in its way this was as revolutionary as the gun layout.
Since dreadnought battleships could engage effectively at two or three times the range of pre-dreadnoughts, these older ships passed rapidly into obsolescence. Even mixed-caliber battleships completed after HMS Dreadnought were referred to as "pre-dreadnoughts", since this was an accurate reflection of their fighting value. This technological advance effectively negated the Royal Navy's huge numerical superiority and allowed the German Navy to begin construction of a modern battle fleet on level terms with the British, although because of the head-start gained with the Dreadnought, and because the large size of dreadnought battleships required Germany to widen and deepen their canals and naval infrastructure, Britain managed to re-establish a narrow 4-dreadnought lead. (There is considerable difference in opinion between military historians as to whether the dramatic rush to dreadnought-style vessels was a strategic success or failure).
Pre-dreadnought battleships saw service during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, notably at the Battle of Tsushima. During World War I the remaining pre-dreadnoughts were generally used for second-line tasks such as convoy escort and shore bombardment (notably during the Gallipoli campaign where a number were lost to submarine attack), although a small squadron of German ones were present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 (German sailors called them the "five minute ships", which was the amount of time they were expected to survive).
After World War I most pre-dreadnoughts were broken up along with many dreadnoughts. Germany was allowed to keep eight in service for coast-defence duties under the terms of the Versailles Treaty and some of these soldiered on into World War II. One of them, Schleswig-Holstein, shelled the Polish Westerplatte peninsula just from the first minutes of the war. Greece also had a pair of ex-US Navy pre-Dreadnoughts in service at the time; they were sunk in due course when Germany invaded her in 1941.
|This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Pre-dreadnought. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WarWiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under CC-BY-SA.|


The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander is a three-row family-friendly SUV that is known for its luxurious and spacious interior. It has seven seven-passenger seating Capacity including its third rows. Its first and 2nd row has usable legroom and headroom space to sit comfortably but its 3rd row is not as enough as the first and second rows.
One of the best things about the Mitsubishi Outlander is that has got many safety Awards. It has got IIHS top safety awards. Mitsubishi Motors offers a lot of standard safety features with Outlander such as a standard Anti-lock braking system with Brake Assist, and More.
Its top rials are Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, and Nissan Rogue. But its rivals have left back it in terms of standard features such as safety and others. But this does not mean that it is not a good SUV. It has its own specifications and quality. It comes in the best Subcompact SUV and this Segment king is Honda CR-V and it has beaten all its rivals.
If you want to know everything about the next Mitsubishi Outlander 2025, you should read this article until the end, Because in this article we are going to tell you everything about the next Mitsubishi Outlander including its release date, pricing, and specs.
Redesign and What’s New For 2025
The Currently available Mitsubishi Outlander is a part of the fourth generation launched for the first time in 2021 as the 2022 Model year and now it is available in the market as the 2024MY with minor updates in its exterior and interior. Otherwise, most of the specifications are the same as 2023MY.
When we talk about the new Mitsubishi Outlander redesign, then there is no official information is released yet by the company regarding its redesign and facelift. However, according to our experience and automotive experts, it may be the Company could give it a facelift in 2025. But as of now, there is no more information available. But we will come back soon with the latest update when the Company discloses new updates for 2025.
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Release Date
As we know there is no official information disclosed yet by the company regarding the next Mitsubishi Outlander 2025 release date, but according to our years of experience in the international automotive industry, we hope to see it for 2025 in late 2024. However, don’t worry about it, because we are here to help you and we will update you soon once the company releases it.
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Price and Trims
The currently available 2024 Outlander is offered in eleven trims models including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models and those price starts at $28,395 for the base model which goes up to $46,295 for the top model.
So we hope that the next Mitsubishi Outlander 2025 Price could hike compared to the current model due to some new refreshes and changes, otherwise, trims are likely to be the same as the previous model. We hope that the next Mitsubishi Outlander price could start at around $30,000 for its base model. Here we have given all its trims expected pricing below in the table:
2025 Mitsubishi Specs
|No. of Doors
|No. of Rows
|Fuel Tank Capacity
|Full Tank Fuel Range
|Fuel Economy (City/ HWY/ Comb.)
|24/ 30/ 26
|FWD or AWD
|0-60 MPH Time
Interior Design and Comfort
The Interior of the latest model year Mitsubishi Outlander is looking good than its predecessors. Now it has high-quality interior materials such as premium clothes, and other premium materials. Now it gives excellent comfort with versatile space for both front and second rows, but, its third row has tight legroom space for adults.
Let’s talk firstly about its driver cabin, its front driver cabin has enough space to sit comfortably for both driver and front passengers. A center console is also given with cupholders and important controls. On its front dashboard, we will see a larger touchscreen infotainment system with more features.
As well as the Company has given a driver information display behind the steering wheel to monitor important information regarding the engine status, and other information such as fuel tank condition, speed, temperature, and other indicators. with a front touchscreen display and driver information, its front driver cabin looks more attractive and impressive.
When you go inside its rear 2nd row seats, you will see that its second row also has enough legroom and headroom space as the front row, and the seats are also made with high-quality materials that give the best comfort. But you can see a shortage of legroom in the third row that creates problems with sitting inside the third row for adults but children are comfortable. As well as you will also get huge space to carry your suitcases and bags behind their third and second rows, as you can view in the image.
Infotainment and Connectivity Features
The Company has given a lot of standard infotainment and connectivity features with its Outlander SUVs such as a standard touchscreen display with an infotainment system, and Connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Here we have given all the infotainment and Connectivity features below:
- 12.3-inch full driver information display
- 8.0 or 9.0-inches touchscreen display
- 12V Power Outlet
- Three-zone Automatic Climate Control
- 6-Speaker Sound System
- AM/FM Radio
- Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
- Bluetooth Wireless Technology
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Fast Key Entry System
- HD Radio
- Micron Air filtration
- Multi-view Camera System
- Power Panoramic Sunroof
- Push Button Start
- Remote Keyless Entry
- Smartphone Wireless Charger
- USB Ports
Safety and Driver Assistance Technology Features
In terms of safety and driver assistance technology features, The Mitsubishi Outlander has got a top safety award from the IIHS. The Company has given more standard safety features such as a standard anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Airbags system, and more. Here we have given all the safety features below:
- Anti-lock Braking System with Brake Assist
- Active Stability Control
- Front shoulder seat belt anchors
- Multiple advance airbags
- Anti-theft Alarm System
- Automatic High Beams
- Blind Spot Warning with Lane Change Assist
- Child Safety Rear Door Locks
- Driver Attention Alert
- Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold
- Forward Collision Mitigation System with Pedestrian Detection
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors
- Hill Start Assist
- Lane Departure Warning
- MI Pilot Assist
- Rear Automatic Emergency Braking System
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
|Head-Room (1st/ 2nd/ 3rd Row)
|Leg-Room (1st/ 2nd/ 3rd Row)
|Shoulder-Room (1st/ 2nd/ 3rd Row)
|Hip-Room (1st/ 2nd/ 3rd Row)
Hello Friends, today we have learned Everything important information regarding the next Mitsubishi Outlander SUV including its release date, Pricing, specs, interior design and comfort, infotainment and safety features, and other important information. We hope this article will help you to solve your queries regarding this SUV. If still you have any queries feel free to contact Us thoug our helpline email.
EVsBuzz.com is an Automotive news and media website that provides comprehensive information regarding the new EVs, SUVs, Sedans, Sports Cars, and other luxury Vehicles reviews, and news. EVsBuzz has more Automotive experts and experienced writers who have more than four or five years of experience in the international automotive industry.


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Domestic violence, sometimes called “family violence,” is a problem cutting across all classes of American society. It is surprisingly common, usually by men against women, and usually rooted in the exercise of power and domination by a stronger person against a weaker person. Victims often experience guilt and self-blame, which is part of the syndrome of domestic violence, and blaming the victim is often a response by abusive spouses when they are confronted about their conduct. It is considered highly damaging to children even when not directed against them. Children exposed to it tend to repeat that behavior in their own lives, and even those who don’t often suffer psychological problems that extend well into adulthood.
Since 1985, Nevada has had legislation in place making available Orders for Protection Against Domestic Violence. In 1991, as part of the creation of the Family Court system, the law was changed to make those orders available through the Family Court.
A Temporary Protective Order, or “TPO,” may be issued if certain acts constituting domestic violence have occurred: a battery; an assault; compelling the other by force or threat of force to perform an act from which he has the right to refrain, or to refrain from an act which he has the right to perform; a sexual assault; a knowing, purposeful, or reckless course of conduct to harass the other; a false imprisonment; or unlawful entry of the other’s residence, or forcible entry against the other’s will if there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to the other from the entry. Here is a flowchart of the steps to obtain a TPO.
However, such an order is only available if, in addition, the parties have one of a limited number of relations to one another: spouse or former spouse; any other person to whom one is related by blood or marriage; person with whom one is or was residing; person with whom one has had or is having a dating relationship; person with whom one has a child in common; or minor child or minor child of any of the persons listed above. A sexual relationship is not required. The statute applies to roommates or former roommates of the same or opposite sex, or parents subject to violence or threats from their children.
The initial, temporary order can be obtained ex parte (without advance notice to the other party) if an emergency situation exists. No attorney is necessary; the applications and forms are available at the Clark County Family Court, and assistance is available to assist with their completion. Nothing prohibits the assistance of counsel either, of course.
The initial TPO can: Prohibit further acts of domestic violence by the adverse party, directly or through an agent; Exclude the adverse party from the applicant’s place of residence; Prohibit the adverse party from entering the residence, school or place of employment of the applicant or the applicant’s minor child and order him to stay away from any specified place regularly frequented by them; grant temporary custody of a minor child; and order other relief as the court deems necessary in an emergency situation.
If the victim communicates specific facts that an act of domestic violence has occurred or has been threatened, and the alleged perpetrator is in custody, the court may grant a protection order via telephone/facsimile. The court will confirm that the perpetrator is in custody, and the order will be sent via facsimile to the detention facility where law enforcement must personally serve the perpetrator with the protection order. In Clark County, this service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In any event, an ex parte temporary protective order is limited to no more than 30 days. However, if an application is made for an extended order before the temporary order expires, the temporary order can continue in effect until the extended order hearing is held.
Either party has the right to request that the protective order be extended, modified, or terminated, in which case a hearing must be held so that both parties can be heard. That hearing must be held within 45 days. The accused party may apply for a hearing to contest either the granting or the terms of a protective order on two days’ notice to the party who obtained the order, which application must be heard “as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.” Once that hearing has been held, however, the protective order can be extended for up to an additional year.
The extended order may order any of the things that the initial TPO ordered, but it may also: Specify visitation between the adverse party and a minor child of the parties and, if necessary, require supervision of the visitation; Order the adverse party to avoid or limit communication with the applicant or a minor child of the parties; Order the adverse party to make rent or mortgage payments or pay for the support of the applicant or minor child if the court finds the adverse party has a duty to support the applicant or the minor child; and Order the adverse party to pay all costs and fees incurred by the applicant in bringing the action.
In any court case involving the custody of a child (divorce, paternity, etc.), the court must consider “whether either parent or any other person seeking custody has engaged in an act of domestic violence against the child, a parent of the child or any other person residing with the child.” If that finding is made, a rebuttable presumption arises that the perpetrator should not have sole or joint custody of the child.
In cases in which there is a history of abusive conduct, visitation terms can contain safeguards for the children and the victim, including supervised exchanges, specific conditions of visitation (such as a prohibition against the use of alcohol or drugs), or supervised visitation.
The Family Mediation Center has special protocols for the protection of the victim spouse in any services provided by the agency in which there is a history of domestic violence.
The statutes require the arrest of the person against whom the order issues, if a law enforcement officer witnesses a violation of that order. Contempt sanctions also may be issued for its violation, and any violation of a TPO is a misdemeanor criminal offense. These procedures are available regardless of whether anyone has filed for divorce.
However, there is a specific crime of domestic violence violating a restraining order issued in a divorce action. Upon conviction, the criminal court can punish the batterer for violation of a misdemeanor and sentence the batterer to up to six months in jail, fine the batterer $1,000, and require a minimum of 200 hours of community service in lieu of fine. The court may also require the batterer to reimburse the victim’s attorney’s fees and costs as well as medical expenses of the victim or a minor child incurred due to the batterer’s violence. Finally, the court may order the batterer “to participate in and complete a program of professional counseling, at his own expense, if such counseling is available.”
WILLICK LAW GROUP is sensitive to the needs of all affected persons when domestic violence is present in a case that we handle. We urge our clients to be totally forthright with us regarding any such history, from the time of the initial consultation forward, and we clearly explain all available options given the facts of the case. Where domestic violence has occurred, it must be squarely addressed and resolved; physically, legally, and economically; as part of the meaningful completion of the client’s case.
- Stepping Back From Anger (AAML)
- Cope Class Information (Bridge Palo Verde Family Consultations brochure)
- Parents Are Forever
- Feuding Parents – Cool it Advice
- Safe Nest brochure 1
- Safe Nest brochure 2
- Safe Nest brochure 3
- Safe House Brochures
- Everyday Threats Made By Overly-Emotional Soon-To-Be-Ex-Spouses
- TPO Process Flowchart
- 5 Red Flags That You’re in an Abusive Relationship – and It’s Time to Get out
Links to Other Web Sites
- NRS 33.018 – Acts Which Constitute Domestic Violence
- NRS 33.020 – Requirements for Issuance of Temporary and Extended Orders; Availability of Court; Cour
- NRS 33.030 – Contents of Order; Interlocutory Appeal
- NRS 125.480 – Best Interest of Child; Preferences; Considerations of Court; Presumption When Court D
- NRS 171.137 – Arrest Required for Suspected Battery Constituting Domestic Violence; Exceptions
- Woman and children’s temporary assistance from domestic violence
© Willick Law Group

domain: law


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For the spring-summer 2021 collection, Aubade gives Baptiste Giabiconi carte blanche to design a men’s underwear line. Having established himself as THE top model in recent years, working alongside major fashion brands and rubbing shoulders with names such as Karl Lagerfeld, it was only natural that Baptiste would want to design an underwear line. www.aubade.de
For him, and for the brand, this collaboration says it all: the same spirit, the same desires. It embodies French seduction, charisma, sex appeal and modernity: he is the ultimate Aubade man!
After much thought and research, the theme of the AUBADE HOMME’s collection is the art of tattooing.
Both decorative and symbolic, this ancestral art brings all fantasies to life. Baptiste has selected tattoos
incorporating arabesques, scrolls and flowers in completely contrasting shades: black and red, black and white.
During an incredible photoshoot under the Mediterranean sun, the Aubade – Baptiste Giabiconi collection came to life, enhanced by the photographer Markus Jans, and Baptiste’s body.


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Love at First Sight [MultiFormat]
Click on image to enlarge.
eBook by Cardeno C.
eBook Category: Erotica/Gay-Lesbian Erotica/Romance
eBook Description: Do you believe in love at first sight? Jonathan does: the moment he glimpsed the striking David from afar, he was hooked, but David disappeared before they could meet. More than three years later, Jonathan gets a second chance--he and David finally meet face to face, and the two fall into a passionate love affair. David turns Jonathan's previously lonely life into a fairy tale, giving him more than he ever imagined. But the past few years have been hard for Jonathan, and he's terrified that his young son and scandalous past will be too much for David. If they're going to build a future together, they're both going to have to dig deep: David for the courage to share himself in a way he's never considered? and Jonathan for the strength to tell the truth.
eBook Publisher: Dreamspinner Press/Dreamspinner Press, Published: 2011, 2011
Fictionwise Release Date: August 2011
* * * *
22 Reader Ratings:
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Jonathan Doyle sure did. Oh, he knew it was silly and naive, but deep down he believed. He wanted to believe. Jonathan was a dyed-in-the-wool hopeless romantic. He always had been.
As a teenager, Jonathan spent hours watching old black-and-white movies on television. He was mesmerized by the chivalrous men holding doors open for their dates, taking their coats, pulling their chairs out, and all the rest of it. When other boys dreamt of growing up to be basketball players, rock stars, or firefighters, all Jonathan wanted was that head-over-heels, traditional love story. Well, almost traditional, because in his daydreams Jonathan--and not a woman--was the person sharing that endless love with Mr. Chivalrous. None of those old black-and-white movies covered that territory.
Though he was amiable and good-natured, Jonathan never could seem to keep things together. Somehow, no matter how hard he tried to stay out of trouble, trouble found him. He had a scar on the tip of his right elbow from the huge picture window he'd broken when he was learning to ride a bike and lost control. He'd put his father's car in drive instead of reverse when he was learning to drive and ended up taking down the neighbor's entire front fence and landing in their swimming pool. And, in an attempt to make his best friend happy, Jonathan had lost his virginity in a blaze of... disappointment and life-altering consequences.
"Is he looking at us now?"
Brown-haired, blue-eyed, petite Kathy McCallister twirled her curls around her finger and forced her eyes to remain glued to Jonathan even as her mind concentrated on her boyfriend, George Rodriguez, who was standing behind her and across the room. Technically, he had been her ex-boyfriend for about a month, but nobody thought the "ex" would stick for long. Jonathan had started to look over at George when Kathy regained his attention by clutching his arm and digging her nails into his skin.
"Don't look at George! He'll know we're talking about him."
Jonathan rubbed his sore skin and frowned at Kathy. He was frustrated with the conversation and the entire evening, frankly. Kathy was his best friend. Actually, she was one of his only friends. So he had joined her at a party to celebrate the end of high school, even though he was painfully shy and more than a little uncomfortable in social settings.
"I thought you just asked me if he was looking at us."
Kathy kept a fake smile plastered to her face, threw her head back and let out a loud laugh, then answered Jonathan's question in a whisper.
"I did ask you to tell me if he's looking at us. But you need to check without him noticing that you're checking, you know?"
Jonathan was frustrated, tired, and done with that party. He had no idea how to check whether Kathy's boyfriend was looking at them without, well, checking.
"Kath, I want to go home. I'm tired. Why don't you just talk to him? You've been with the guy since freshman year. Surely you can have a conversation with him."
At that very moment, a pretty sophomore approached George and stroked his arm as they spoke. Being across the room, Jonathan couldn't hear what they were saying, but when George put his arm around the girl and led her toward the door, some of Jonathan's shock must have shown on his face, because Kathy forgot all about checking without checking and spun around just in time to see her boyfriend leaving the party with another girl. Ex-boyfriend. Whatever.
"Oh, Kath, I... I'm sure there's a good explanation. Maybe he's...."
Damn. Jonathan had no idea how to end that sentence. He knew nothing about relationships and he didn't know much about George. Yeah, Kathy was Jonathan's friend and she'd been George's girlfriend for almost four years, but the two young men didn't have anything in common, so they rarely spent time together.
George was a popular athlete, social, friendly, and outgoing. Jonathan was quiet, kept to himself, and hoped to get through the day avoiding taunts from classmates. He often heard people mutter that he was weird or strange under their breath. Clumsy and uncoordinated were also fan favorites. But there was one genre of taunt they liked to use most of all: queer, fag, homo, and, on a good day, gay.
Those words had trailed Jonathan down the hallways at school and in the playground since middle school. He'd never been with another guy, never even outwardly expressed an interest in another guy. But it was true. Jonathan knew that it was true. He was terrified about how his family would feel about it, though, so he kept the information to himself.
"I can't believe he just left with that slut! That cheating asshole! I knew it! I just knew it."
Kathy was steaming mad, her fists clenched at her sides as she stomped her pink, glittery boots.
"Fine. He wants to play this game with me. I can find another guy too."
She flicked her long hair behind her shoulder and looked around the room with a determined glint in her eyes. Jonathan knew he had to stop her before she did something she'd regret.
"Kathy, come on. I'll take you home and you can call him and talk. Let's go."
As soon as she felt Jonathan's hand on her arm, Kathy turned on him. She opened her mouth to yell, but then her rage twisted into a frightening grin.
"Oh, this is just too perfect. Let's go, Jon."
Jonathan started walking toward the door, but Kathy grabbed his hand and hauled him in the opposite direction.
"Where are we going? Front door's that way, Kath." Jonathan pointed toward the exit.
"We're not leaving this party. We're going into the bedroom, we're leaving the door open a crack, and we're making enough damn noise that George's boys will be sure to tell him that he's not the only one who can have some extracurricular fun. Come on, Jonathan."
Ten minutes later it was over. Jonathan was lying on the guest room bed with his pants and underwear shoved down to his knees, but otherwise still completely dressed. He was even wearing his shoes. Kathy climbed off of him and pulled her underwear back on under her skirt. He came, so that should mean he'd enjoyed it, right? But he hadn't. Hell, Jonathan wasn't even sure what "it" was. Kathy had just pushed him down on the bed, ripped down his jeans and briefs, stroked his dick until it got hard, and rode him to completion.
"Pull your pants up, Jon. We can go now."
Kathy turned to him and looked at his face. Jonathan wasn't sure what she saw there, but for the first time, she seemed to realize that her advances might not have been welcome.
"Oh, shit. Are you okay, Jon? I didn't think you'd mind. I mean, you're a guy and everything. You're all about sex, right?"
He raised his hips, pulled his underwear and pants up, and sat on the bed, cross-legged. Then Jonathan looked at his friend, cleared his throat, and spoke in a whisper.
"I, umm, I've never done that before, Kathy."
He'd actually never done anything before. No sex, no hand jobs, not even a kiss. Well, the kiss hadn't happened with Kathy, but the rest was all brand-new.
She looked shocked. Probably because she'd been having sex since she was fourteen.
Understanding and then regret passed over her pretty face. She walked over to Jonathan, sat next to him on the bed, and put her hand on his knee.
"Jon, are you... I mean, ehm, those things they say, I thought it was just because you're so pretty, you know. But are you...."
Pretty? Guys aren't pretty. Yeah, he had delicate features, long eyelashes, and a slender build. But still.
"Hey, I don't look like a girl!"
Kathy giggled and looked down at her friend's lap.
"Oh, I know you're not a girl, Jonathan. I just experienced the evidence firsthand."
"Yeah, no kidding. I think you just scared me gay, Kath."
Somehow that lightened the mood and Kathy laughed. Unshed tears glistened in her eyes.
"You're not mad at me?"
Was he mad? Jonathan thought about it. No, he couldn't be mad at Kathy. Hell, he had a hard time staying mad at anyone. He just didn't have it in him.
"Nah, I'm not mad. At least now I can say I've tried to screw myself straight. I'll add it to my list of failures. Like when I played Little League and didn't hit the ball a single time the entire season, even in practice. Or the time I entered the science fair in fifth grade and started a fire, so the sprinklers drenched everyone."
Kathy put a hand on each of her friend's cheeks and caught his eyes. Her voice was serious.
"Jonathan, there is nothing wrong with being gay. Nothing. Don't you dare call it a failure."
And that's just one reason she was his best friend. Even if she had just mauled him in their classmate's guest room.
"Do you think my parents will be disappointed in me?" Jonathan chewed on his bottom lip and played with a loose thread in his shirt. He didn't want to sound like a little kid, but he hated the idea of upsetting his parents. He hated the idea of upsetting anyone.
"Nope. I really don't think they'll be disappointed. If you want, I'll come over and sit with you when you tell them."
"Thanks, Kath. I'm not ready yet, but I'll let you know."
Kathy scooted off the bed and walked toward the open door.
"'K. Let's go, Jonny boy. We have to get up early tomorrow for the trip."
The next day Kathy's mother picked Jonathan up and dropped both of them off at the airport. Their theater teacher was taking the graduating seniors on a three-day trip to Broadway. Kathy had been the lead in a couple of plays and she'd played important characters in a few others. Jonathan had helped build sets.
New York was fun and Jonathan managed to steer relatively clear of trouble for almost the entire trip. On the last day, he and Kathy were sitting on the floor in her hotel room, trying to decide how to end their visit.
"We have a free morning for our last day, Jonathan. What do you wanna do? Maybe we can get into some of those crazy New York bars!"
Jonathan rolled his eyes and looked at the brochures of museums and monuments strewn all around him, flipping through each one in turn and studying it intently.
"Kathy, it's eight o'clock in the morning. Bars probably aren't open yet, even in New York. Besides, neither of us is old enough to get in."
Kathy pouted and opened her mouth to answer when they both heard Miranda Lambert's "Kerosene" playing from across the room.
Well, I'm giving up on love, hey, love's given up on me.
Jonathan raised his eyebrows at Kathy. "You changed George's ringtone?"
She flushed. "Why's the asshole calling me?"
Jonathan gave her an understanding smile. "He's not an asshole, Kath. And you still love him. I'll go see the Statute of Liberty and give you some privacy so you two can talk."
Kathy didn't argue. She stalked over to her phone and looked at it like a snake that might bite her. After a few seconds, she steeled her body, put on her toughest frown, and answered.
"Wadda you want?"
Jonathan walked out of the room with a few brochures clutched in his hand and waited until the door was closed before he started laughing. He didn't understand what had been going on between his friend and her boyfriend, but he knew George loved her. Frankly, he was surprised it had taken this long for the guy to call. The only question now was how long Kathy would make him suffer before she'd let him off the hook for whatever it was he'd done wrong.
Jonathan stepped out of the hotel and made his way through the crowded New York streets. That's when his life turned upside down. Well, technically, his body turned upside down when he tripped walking down the stairs to the subway. He wasn't seriously injured, but he had sprained his wrist, so the paramedics took him to the hospital for an X-ray. The doctor confirmed that nothing was broken, put Jonathan's wrist in a brace, and discharged him.
Because he was already eighteen and legally an adult, the hospital didn't need to call anybody before treating Jonathan, but he didn't want his teacher to worry, so he called her to explain where he was. Once the sling was in place, he got into the elevator to make his way out of the hospital and back to the hotel. No surprise here, he hit the wrong button and got off on the wrong floor. By the time he realized he was in the maternity wing instead of the lobby, Jonathan was standing in front of the baby nursery, mesmerized by a man behind the glass.
The man was wearing one of those blue hospital-issued covers over his street clothes and was sitting in a rocker, holding a tiny baby wrapped in a blue-and-pink-striped blanket. His hair was a deep black color, his skin fair, and his eyes... wow those, eyes. They were beautiful, a sparkling navy-blue color that Jonathan had never before seen, never even imagined. Jonathan felt like he could drown in those eyes.
Jonathan was frozen in the hospital hallway, staring at the gorgeous man. He couldn't hear through the glass, but it looked like the man was singing to the baby he was rocking. And there were tears streaming down that perfect, chiseled face. Jonathan wanted to walk over to the blue-eyed man, crawl into his lap, and wipe away his tears. He wanted to feel that soft black hair, lay his head on that broad chest, and hear the man's heart beat. He wanted to take care of that man so he'd never cry again. Time stood still as Jonathan saw his future with the blue-eyed man behind the nursery window.
"Jonathan Doyle! There you are."
Jonathan turned his head toward the elevator and saw his teacher racing toward him in a panic.
"You said you were coming right back to the hotel. When you didn't arrive, I called the hospital, and they said you'd been discharged hours ago. Thank goodness you're okay. What did you get yourself into this time, dear?"
His teacher looked at his arm and touched the sling tenderly. Jonathan looked up at the clock on the hospital wall and realized that three hours had passed. It'd felt like only a few seconds, but he'd been staring at his dream man for over three hours. When he looked back through the nursery window, the man was gone. It was like he had vanished into thin air. Jonathan's heart stung with the loss, and he had trouble getting air into his lungs. Forcing himself to calm down, he answered his teacher.
"Oh, sorry, Mrs. Burns. I didn't mean to worry you. I got off on the wrong floor and I lost track of time."
"It's okay, dear. I understand."
Mrs. Burns had known Jonathan since he was a freshman, so she no longer asked questions when he got himself into yet another predicament. She just took his uninjured arm and walked him into the elevator, out of the hospital, and to a cab waiting outside.
"Kathy packed your bag, Jonathan. We need to go straight to the airport to make our flight."
He nodded, but all he could think about was that man. The one behind the nursery glass. The man with those amazing navy-blue eyes.
By the time Jonathan got back home to Emile City, he'd come up with some justification for why he should move to New York after graduation. His reasoning had something to do with finding his life's calling in the city where anything was possible, exploring the music scene, because Jonathan loved music. Who cares? It was baloney and Jonathan knew it. He had no calling. He'd never had an interest in any particular thing. He'd always been decidedly average in every subject and every activity.
The truth was, Jonathan wanted to move to New York because that's where he lived. Jonathan wanted to meet him. He needed to know him. That lovely, striking man with the navy-blue eyes. That very clearly straight man who had just had a baby. The man whom Jonathan had fallen in love with at first sight.
After graduation the following week, Jonathan packed up his belongings, gathered the money he'd saved working at his family's restaurant, and left for his new life in New York City. He got a room in a cheap hostel and found a job washing dishes. Between work and his attempts to find his dream man, Jonathan was exhausted. On the plus side, he was too tired to be depressed about the fact that he hadn't seen him and really didn't know where to find him--the lovely man with the intense blue eyes whose image was burned into Jonathan's mind. The downside was that Jonathan was lonely. Deeply lonely.
Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, but no matter how hard he looked, Jonathan never could find that man. As with everything else in his life, Jonathan's plan of finding Mr. Right and riding off into the sunset together didn't quite work out. And then he managed to mess things up even further.
It started with a telephone call in the middle of the night.
Her voice was barely a whisper, but Jonathan still recognized it.
"Yeah, Kathy. What's wrong?"
He tried to rub the sleep from his eyes with his free hand while he sat up on the thin mattress, winced when a spring poked his leg, then leaned back against the crumbling wall. A quick glance at his alarm clock told him it was almost midnight. Why would Kathy be calling?
"Did something happen with George again?"
Kathy and George had gotten back together about a month earlier. He'd enlisted in the army and shown up at Kathy's door with an engagement ring. She'd accepted. Jonathan hadn't ever figured out what'd caused their breakup in the first place.
"No, George is fine. We're good."
There was an eerie silence on the line and then the whispered voice again.
"Jonathan, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I didn't mean to, but... shit, this is hard."
"Kathy? Are you okay? What's going on?"
A long sigh and then, "I'm pregnant and you're the father."
Now it was Jonathan's turn to be silent. His mouth dropped open and his brain froze.
"Shit. I'm sorry, Jonathan. That wasn't how I planned to tell you. I was going to work up to it, but then I figured maybe the Band-Aid method was best. You know, just rip it off."
Still no response from Jonathan. His brain was waking up and just starting to process the enormity of what Kathy was telling him.
"Look, you don't need to do anything. I was an idiot and I didn't even think about what was happening until I went to the doctor for my annual and she asked me when my last period was. I peed on a stick and voila! Baby on the way. George and I are getting married, and we're moving to Kentucky for his basic training. He doesn't want to take another man's baby with him, which I totally understand. Too late to do anything about it now, though, so I'm giving it up for adoption. Anyway, I'll send you some paperwork, you sign it, and in about four months we can forget any of this ever happened."
That entire speech was given in about thirty seconds, which was about as long as Kathy gave him to react.
"Jonathan? Say something."
His mouth was still hanging open but no words were coming out.
"Look, Jonathan, I know you're there. I can hear you breathing."
Really? He was still breathing? Well, that was a good sign. He cleared his throat and managed to push a few words out.
"I need to think about this, Kathy."
"Yeah, I know. It'll take time for the stuff to get to you anyway. There are lots of papers, and I don't have them electronically, so I'll need to use snail mail. What's your address?"
Jonathan tried to be clearer.
"That's not what I meant. Kathy, I need to think about whether or not I'm willing to give the baby up for adoption. I... I don't know if I can do that."
A loud sigh from Kathy followed by long, awkward moments of silence stretched between them.
"If you keep the baby, Jonathan, it'll be on your own. I'm relinquishing my rights. That's what they call it when you sign these papers. It'll be like I'm not the mother at all. I'm sorry. I know it sounds heartless, but that whole night was a stupid mistake. George is my life. We're getting married. We're going to have our own children. And he doesn't want a kid around to remind him of that time."
"I understand, Kath. I don't blame George. And I don't think you're heartless. I just need a little time to process all of this."
It's funny, but when Jonathan hung up the phone, the anxiety and heartbreak that filled him had nothing to do with a fear that he'd disappoint his parents or that he was too young and unsettled to have a baby. No. The only thing on Jonathan's mind was that those beautiful navy-blue eyes would never be his.
Finding the man from the hospital had been a long shot, and he probably wasn't gay anyway, or, if he was, he was probably already with someone else. But a guy with a baby.... Who'd want that? It was the final nail in the coffin, burying any hope Jonathan had of connecting with his dream guy.
It was that loss and sorrow, mixed with the ever-present loneliness that had surrounded Jonathan since he'd moved to New York--or, if he were really being honest, the loneliness that had been with him his entire life--that motivated him to throw on some clothes, leave the seedy hostel, and walk into the first gay bar he could find. He hadn't been in the place two minutes when a decent-looking, if smarmy, guy strutted up.
"I'm Ray and you're beautiful."
That kind of cheesiness should make a person want to vomit. But Jonathan, who hadn't ever understood how exceptionally attractive he was, felt flattered that someone would think he was worth a second look, let alone a conversation, so he talked with Ray. After twenty minutes, Ray invited Jonathan to his place so they could talk in a quieter setting. It seems like a really obvious line, right? Well, Jonathan didn't catch it.
Jonathan couldn't figure out what happened after he got to Ray's apartment. It was all a blur of loneliness and sadness over losing hope of ever being with him. And it felt so good to have a man touch him, rub him, and want him. So Jonathan just went with it. He had been waiting for so long, or at least that's how it seemed to his eighteen-year-old mind. He was tired of being lonely, he hadn't found the man with the navy-blue eyes, and the dream man would never want him now anyway.
So Jonathan had sex with the stranger. Even without kisses and words of devotion, the act itself felt good. At least, the during part felt good. But after they were done, Ray hurried Jonathan out the door without even bothering to come up with an excuse. Then he didn't call Jonathan for several days, and when he finally did, it wasn't to ask for a date.
"I need you to come over. Remember where I live?"
Jonathan wanted to refuse the offer, but Ray was insistent and Jonathan didn't want to upset him. He knocked on the door to Ray's apartment, knowing he'd been invited over for nothing more than a quick fuck. He wasn't kidding himself that there could ever actually be more between them. The thing was, Jonathan didn't care anymore. It seemed that his life was over as it was; he was never going to have the fairy tale. He'd have to explain being gay and being a single-unwed-teenage-father to his parents. And he'd never be with him, so he might as well have sex with Ray. At least that let him feel something other than emptiness and despair. For the moment, anyway.
Ray's slick smile greeted Jonathan and his stomach heaved.
"Right. Jonathan. Whatever. Come on in."
Jonathan thought about turning around and going back to the hostel. What was he doing there? But he didn't want to be rude, so he followed Ray into the tiny apartment.
"I have exciting news! Sit down on the couch."
Jonathan shuffled over to the stained couch and furrowed his brow in confusion as Ray sat next to him with a laptop, pressed a few buttons, and pointed at the screen. There they were, naked as the day they were born, Jonathan on his hands and knees and Ray behind him.
"You... you filmed us having sex?!"
"Yeah, I thought it would be just for me later. But I showed it to my buddy and he noticed how hot you are so he said he'd pay us for it. I just need you to sign a release. Easiest way to make a hundred bucks ever!"
Jonathan was appalled. He wasn't sure if it was with himself or with Ray.
"No! I can't do that. What if someone I know finds out? What if my parents see it?"
Ray rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on. Are your parents into amateur gay porn? How would they ever find out? We'll just make up a name for you and tell my buddy to use that for the movie. No harm, no foul."
"I...." Jonathan shook his head furiously and tried to get control over his emotions and the situation. This was bad. Really, really bad. "Ray, I can't do that."
Ray's excitement turned to anger and he scowled at Jonathan.
"Look, you might be some rich kid, but I need the money. I'll give you a hundred and fifty. That's half, so I don't even get paid for doing all the filming work."
Right, because hiding a camera in his bedroom consisted of work. Jonathan knew that agreeing with Ray was a bad idea, but he couldn't bring himself to fight with the bigger, older, more confident man. So when Ray handed him a pen and shoved the release at him, Jonathan reluctantly signed it.
"You'll make up a fake name?"
Ray walked across the room to get his phone.
"Yeah, sure. We'll use your porn name. What is it?"
"My porn name?"
An annoyed eye roll from Ray.
"Yeah, you know, your middle name and the name of your first pet. Your porn name."
Did everyone know that? Was Jonathan really that socially inept? Probably.
"Umm. My middle name is William. And my first pet was a blue bird named Dragon."
Ray pressed the buttons on his phone, paying only minimal attention to what Jonathan was saying.
"Great. Will Dragon. Perfect porn name."
He held his pointer finger up in the air and concentrated on the phone.
"Hey, man. He signed the paper. When can we get our check?" A pause while Ray nodded his head toward nobody in particular. "Cool. We're here now. I'll just tell him to wait."
He ended the call and turned to Jonathan.
"Wait here and we'll get our money."
Jonathan wanted to leave. Yeah, he could use a hundred and fifty dollars, especially with the whole fatherhood thing hanging over him. But his gut told him to cut his losses and walk away. He got up from the couch.
"I'm just going to take off, Ray. I'll call you about the money later."
Not that he had Ray's number. That had been a one-way exchange. Didn't matter. He wanted to leave that apartment and pretend he'd never met Ray.
"No, don't go. My buddy said that he wants to talk to you. Just hang out for a few. He's right down the street."
Ray was so insistent and really, what did Jonathan's gut know? Wasn't it his gut that'd told him the blue-eyed man was the one? It now seemed pretty clear what a flop that was. So Jonathan relented in the face of Ray's demand that he stay and wait. He sat back down on the couch.
What could it hurt to meet his friend? Jonathan thought, as he nervously tapped his foot and chewed on his bottom lip.
An hour later, Jonathan had met Ray's friend and agreed to take part in another movie. Higher production values this time, good money. He was out of the apartment and in some makeshift studio, stripped and lying on his back with his ankles pinned by his ears before he knew what'd happened.
Somehow, having sex with some stranger while a few other guys stood around and filmed it wasn't any worse than having sex with Ray. The act still felt good. Jonathan couldn't deny how much he enjoyed getting fucked. And if he had to shut down his heart and force his brain to stop thinking, well, he could do that. Or at least he could try.
After that day, agreeing to have sex on camera didn't seem to matter. He'd already done it once, what did twice matter? Or three times? Or four? He'd been in bed with one guy, what did two guys matter? Or three? Or more?
Two months later, Jonathan was almost numb. He'd quit his job at the restaurant and had stopped spending his days looking for Mr. Right, knowing that the blue-eyed man wouldn't want him anyway. Instead, he devoted his time to having sex with strangers while other strangers filmed him. And he hated himself for finding some enjoyment in the act, in spite of the fact that he knew it was an empty life.
Then one day, in what he considered to be the first stroke of luck in his entire existence, Jonathan was at work, hanging in a sling, surrounded by men taking turns with his mouth and his ass, when a loud noise startled everyone. Police officers invaded the studio space, and Jonathan didn't even grimace as they looked at his cum-covered body in disgust. Typical, he thought. Of course a bunch of alpha males would barge in at just that moment.
Jonathan closed his eyes to shut out the sneers and smirks surrounding him. There was no way to ignore some of the nasty comments directed his way, but really, Jonathan didn't expect anything else. Just one more way he'd managed to embarrass himself. At least he hadn't been doing anything illegal. Wait, making those movies wasn't illegal, was it?
* * * *
When Jonathan opened his eyes, there was a gorgeous guy towering over him. Piercing green eyes studied him from a fierce but strikingly handsome face, topping off what had to be one of the best bodies Jonathan had ever seen. Jonathan scrambled out of the sling and found a bathroom. He was wiping the last bit of cum from his hair when Officer Hottie walked in and dropped a pile of clothes on the floor.
"Get dressed and then we can talk. What's your name, bud?"
Oh, no! Jonathan panicked. If he gave his name to a police officer, it'd all be official and his parents were bound to find out.
Maybe he'd buy it. It sort of sounded like a regular name. And it was the one listed on all the movies.
"Give me a break. I want your real name."
Darn. Well, Jonathan hadn't actually thought that'd work. He sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"Jonathan. My name is Jonathan Doyle."
Instead of writing down his name and handcuffing him or something, the police officer smiled and wrapped his arm protectively around Jonathan's shoulder.
"Nice to meet you, Jonathan. I'm Detective Owens. Get dressed and I'm going to buy you lunch as an apology for that asshole's behavior."
Jonathan was confused. What asshole? The other police officer? Sure, he hadn't been very nice. Well, he'd been rude, if Jonathan were being honest, but so what? It wasn't as if it was the first time a guy had made fun of him, and it surely wouldn't be the last.
"Cops aren't the bad guys, bud. I'll wait for you out here."
As Jonathan slipped on his pants and shrugged into his shirt, he wondered what the detective wanted from him. He clearly wasn't gay, so it couldn't be sex. Oh well, lunch sounded good. Jonathan hadn't eaten anything all day.
As it turned out, Jonathan got a lot more than lunch from Detective Owens. The gorgeous guy was a great listener. Jonathan told him how long he'd lived in New York, why he'd moved there, how long he'd been doing porn, and that he was about to become a father. It felt good to talk to someone who really listened and didn't seem to judge. Jonathan was so comfortable with Detective Owens that, when he offered to help Jonathan get his life together and become a person worthy of the baby on the way, Jonathan took him up on the offer. The first step was to stop working for the studio, because whether he liked it or not, he was going to be a father.
After Samuel was born, Jonathan spent a week in Emile City. His parents practically begged him to stay, but Jonathan was reinspired to follow his dream and find the man with the navy-blue eyes. So he returned to New York City, with his son in tow and renewed hope that he'd find his soul mate.
His life was different than the previous time he'd embarked on this journey. The loneliness was still there, but it was no longer tinged by recklessness. He'd finally caught a break--he had a son, a wonderful, beautiful son whom Jonathan adored. And he was good at something for the first time in his life. He was a good father. Everyone who saw Jonathan with Sam said so. And the smile on his baby's face whenever his papa walked into the room didn't lie.
So Jonathan worked hard--with his clothes on--and raised his boy. And he resurrected his search for the one. He also made himself follow certain rules. He didn't go to bars to meet men. Women and men alike often tried to pick him up, but he refused to go home with a guy he'd just met. And he refused to have sex with someone just because he fed Jonathan a good line and a temporary cure for loneliness. Jonathan was waiting for Mr. Right, and whenever he imagined him and their perfect, romantic life together, Mr. Right had those beautiful navy-blue eyes that Jonathan had seen through the hospital nursery window.
Almost three years later, Jonathan was ready to give up. He was tired of being alone. He had left his family to move across the country, hoping to find his soul mate, and instead he'd had a short stint as an adult film actor followed by two and a half years of celibacy. It seemed like there was no point. Jonathan figured that if he was going to be alone anyway, he might as well go home, where he and Samuel had family. And if he packed up their meager belongings soon, he'd be back in time for Thanksgiving.
So Jonathan moved himself and Sam back to Emile City, and into his old bedroom in his parents' house. He promised himself and his folks that it was only temporary, that he'd move out as soon as he saved a little money. The best way to do that was to go back to his old job, working in the kitchen of his family's restaurant, so that's what he did. And just like that, Jonathan was settled into an only slightly less lonely life. Oh well... at least his son was around family. That was an improvement over New York.
On the evening of his twenty-second birthday, Jonathan's parents offered to babysit Sam so he could go out with friends to celebrate.
"We'll watch Samuel tonight, honey. You haven't had a night to yourself in years. Go on and have a good time and let us be grandparents. You can use my car."
Jonathan's mom dangled her car keys in front of him. Her warm voice was laced with concern. She could tell her son wasn't happy, not deep down, and that he hadn't been for a long time. But she didn't know how to help.
He didn't want to worry his parents and he didn't have the heart to tell them that he didn't have any friends, so Jonathan borrowed their car and drove to downtown EC West. It was a part of town he'd always enjoyed, full of big trees, brick sidewalks, and same-sex couples walking around holding hands. Being there gave Jonathan hope that someday he could be that lucky. That maybe he wouldn't always be alone.
He wandered through some shops to kill time, but he didn't have any spare money to spend, so that didn't last long. Then Jonathan walked by a red brick building with a hand-stenciled sign reading "Where Cowboys Dream." He hadn't been in a bar since that fateful night in New York, but something in Jonathan's gut, or maybe it was his heart, told him to go inside. That gut had been quiet since he'd ignored it that tragic day in New York when he'd embarked on his former "career," so Jonathan thought maybe this time he should listen.
The bar was quaint and comfortable. It had exposed brick walls, thick drapes, and old leather benches. Jonathan slipped off his coat, slid into a well-worn booth, and ran his hands over the wood table, taking in the ridges and scars. There was something remarkably calming about that table, or maybe it was the whole bar. A sense of peace settled over Jonathan that he hadn't felt since that day in the hospital when he'd lost time staring through the nursery glass.
"Hey there. Thought you looked like you could use a drink. I'm Nick."
Jonathan looked up to see a tall man with a ridiculously broad chest trying to rip its way out of a too-tight shirt suspended over toothpick legs. The man pushed a beer in front of Jonathan and then squeezed himself into the booth. He scooted in right next to Jonathan and left no room for personal space. Jonathan moved his body as far as he could toward the wall.
"Oh, umm, thank you. I'm Jonathan."
Jonathan held out his hand, creating a small space between their bodies. He hoped Nick would take the hint and stay on his side of the bench.
"Jonathan, huh? Fine."
He smirked as he said it, which Jonathan didn't understand. The whole situation was making him nervous, so he picked up the beer, raised it to his mouth, and drank it down. The taste was bitter and unfamiliar, but at least it occupied him for a few minutes. Jonathan noticed Nick's heated eyes on his body and fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Look, umm, thanks for the beer, but I'm not, umm...."
Wow. What could he say to get rid of the guy without hurting his feelings? Jonathan felt slightly panicked from being pinned in that booth, and his face reddened with anxiety.
Nick rubbed his hand roughly up and down Jonathan's arm, then moved down to his knee, his thigh, and crept higher. Jonathan clutched Nick's hand, stopping the upward trajectory.
"Please don't. Look, I don't know you and I have no interest in, umm, fooling around with you. I don't do this, umm, don't do pickups, okay? I'm sort of waiting for a certain guy."
That didn't work.
"Yeah, right!" Nick laughed and kept touching Jonathan.
Never having enjoyed conflict and feeling deeply uncomfortable in the face of the persistence Nick was exhibiting, Jonathan had to gather all his inner strength just to plant his hands on Nick's chest and push forward, hoping Nick would move so he could get out of the booth. That's when things really turned ugly. Nick wouldn't budge. He glared at Jonathan and hissed under his breath in a menacing voice.
"Oh come on, Will Dragon." Jonathan's mouth dropped open in shock, but Nick was completely undeterred, and kept taunting him. "That's right, I know who you are. Don't be such a cock tease! We both know what you want." Nick grabbed his own dick and crudely shook it through his pants at Jonathan. "And I can give it to you."
Jonathan's arms dropped from Nick's chest down to his sides. He sat, paralyzed, in the booth, blinking back tears at the realization that his old life in New York had caught up with him at home in Emile City. Would his parents find out? Would they be as disappointed with him as he'd become with himself? Nick took advantage of Jonathan's frazzled state and moved his hand back into Jonathan's lap. Jonathan gasped and once again tried unsuccessfully to push the larger man back. Suddenly, someone came over and hauled Nick away from the table and onto his feet.
"I think the gentleman said no. We all heard him and none of us were as close to his face as you. Now get the hell out of this bar and don't come back, asshole!"
The voice was deep and strong. It made Jonathan's skin shiver, and he could feel goose bumps running up his spine. Jonathan couldn't see his hero's face because his back was turned, but Jonathan was still enjoying the view. The man was taller than Jonathan's five foot ten inches by about five inches. He had silky black hair and a broad, muscular build with shoulders that were at least twice as wide as Jonathan's. He was wearing a collared shirt under a thin sweater and dark jeans that showed off his thick legs and firm ass.
Jonathan started fantasizing about what that body would look like naked, wrapped around his own, how it'd feel to be surrounded by all that muscle and strength, when he was interrupted by the sound of Nick screaming obscenities.
"Fuck off, man. I saw him first and I can handle him just fine. Mind your own business!"
"It's my bar, so this is my business. You need to leave right now."
The voice was calm but laced with steel. None of that registered with Nick, who ignored the command and, instead of leaving, took a swing at the guy who'd helped Jonathan. Jonathan got up to try to defuse the situation, but that was a mistake. Nick spun around and hissed at him.
"Come here, Will Dragon." He sneered as he spat out the painfully resurrected name into Jonathan's ear. "I bought you a drink. I saw you eyeing my package. Don't act like you don't want this. You're coming with me."
Nick reached over to seize Jonathan's arm but the tall, dark-haired man stepped in, blocked his reach, and shoved Nick away. He was incredibly strong, which made Jonathan's dick take interest.
"Get out of my bar. NOW!"
And with that, Jonathan's protector took Nick's arm, twisted it behind his back, and pushed him out the door. Jonathan was startled, a little drunk from having consumed the first beer in his life in a matter of minutes, and distracted by the sexy, dark-haired hero, but he was holding it together pretty well. He got up to thank his savior as he walked back to the table. That's when Jonathan saw the face attached to that gorgeous body for the first time.
Oh my God, those eyes. Those navy-blue eyes.
"Are you alright, buddy? He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"It's you," Jonathan muttered as he fell to the floor.

domain: literature


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text:
TOWSON, Md. - The 2016-17 season marks the 10th year anniversary for the Landmark Conference. To help celebrate, the Landmark is featuring individuals that have stood out over the past 10 years by naming All-Decade Teams in each sport.
On Oct. 25, the conference announced the members of the Women's Cross Country All-Decade Team. Susquehanna boasted three athletes on the list: Casey Hess '13, Ashley West '15 and Alycia Woodruff '11.
Hess was a member of the Susquehanna University's women's cross country team from 2008-2012. A three-time All-Landmark First Team selection (2008-2010), and the 2009 Performer of the Year, Hess helped guide SU to the Landmark Championship in 2010. She was also named to the Academic Honor Roll team in 2009.
Woodruff was a member of the Susquehanna's women's cross country team from 2007-2010, where she was named the Landmark Performer of the Year in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Woodruff was a member of the 2008 and 2010 championship teams, and was also was named to the Landmark Academic Team from 2008-2010.
Finally, West was a member of the Susquehanna University's women's cross country team from 2012-2015. She earned first team honors all four years for SU, finishing fourth in both 2013 and 2015. West earned Landmark Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2015.
Athletes that were named All-Conference First Team a minimum of two times, and/or were named Landmark Player of the Year, during their career will be nominated automatically, and each team had the opportunity to nominate additional individuals for consideration. The All-Decade team was selected by the membership and will be announced prior to the conference championship of each sport.
Landmark Conference All-Decade Team: Women's Cross Country
Katherine Currier, Goucher
Lydia Dearie, Elizabethtown
Kathleen Druther, Scranton
Jenna Hackett, Catholic
Casey Hess, Susquehanna
Cadee Rockwell, Moravian
Jennifer Van Wingerden, Drew
Ashley West, Susquehanna
Alycia Woodruff, Susquehanna
Katrina Woods, Juniata


text:
A Review by David Wolske
In his foreword to the 2010 Liber Apertus Press reissue of Rob Roy Kelly’s American Wood Type 1828–1900, David Shields wrote:
Forty years on, Kelly’s seminal work remains a giant on whose shoulders we stand. He wrote American Wood Type because it needed to be written and in doing so laid the foundation for a new wave of scholarship.
Alphabets of Wood is the most recent and arguably the most beautiful addition to the new wave of wood type scholarship. It is also important because it is the first publication to seriously examine the historical and cultural significance of Italian wood type manufacturers.
In the first part of the book, James Clough calligrapher, writer provides a broad historical overview of wood block printing, from fourteenth- and fifteenth-century hand carved imagery and text through the nineteenth-century American origins of moveable wooden type. In “Chapter 6” Clough introduces us to Luigi Melchiori, a skilled designer and manufacturer of wood type, active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the Veneto Region of Italy. Through beautifully paced layouts, sumptuous photography, and a richly textured typographic palette, Melchiori’s life, work, and legacy are situated in the context of other Italian wood type manufacturers.
In the second part of Alphabets of Wood, Chiara Scattolin digs deep into the archive of wood type fonts, specimen books, tools, and documents held by Tipoteca Italiana. Detailed testimonies from peers help to humanize “the Bodoni of wood type,” making it easy for contemporary typographers, graphic designers, letterpress printers, and artists to recognize themselves in the pride and craftsmanship Melchiori brought to his work.
Every chapter of the book is illustrated with stunningly handsome antique wood type specimens. Two eight-page letterpress inserts on a toothy, soft-white paper stock provide an arrestingly modern counterpoint. The Stamperia of Tipoteca Italiana printed all sixteen frame-worthy pages using original wood type from Tipoteca’s Wood Type Archive.
Typographically the book echoes the best of Italian design, finding a harmonious balance between industrial sharpness and sensuous fluidity. Minion, for the body text and annotation, pairs nicely with image captions and folios set in FF Balance. The graceful geometry of chapter titles set in Mark Simonson’s keenly appropriate Mostra Nuova perfectly compliments the brute Latin Wide chapter numerals.
Alphabets of Wood shines a spotlight on the remarkable efforts of working museums like Tipoteca Italiana and Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum to educate and inspire new generations of practitioners and scholars. Its contemporary design aesthetic and a chapter devoted to “Wood Type in the Digital Age” boldly declare that wood type and letterpress printing, while rooted in the past, play an important role in current and future design, craft, and art discourse.
Alphabets of Wood: Luigi Melchiori & the history of Italian wood type
James Clough and Chiara Scattolin
Tipoteca Italiana, Cornuda – Italy
David is a letterpress artist, typographer, book designer, educator, and frequent collaborator with Moore Wood Type and Virgin Wood Type. In 2010 he founded the letterpress and wood type blog LetterpressDaily.com