This story can be read without it's earlier parts.
Joanne came home from the mall with more questions then answers. She opened her computer and pulled the list from her pocket, the list of towns and cities a local railroad once connected. It would be Joanne's Job to learn as much as she could about each of these places, because Joanne had no idea what it was about them she needed to know.
The list was nothing so innocent as a homework assignment. The names had come from an ancient bulletin board buried in the wall of the shopping center she had just left.
Someone or something had torn through the wall when no one was looking. It was the same something that had been haunting Joanne ever since a tattered stuffed cat arrived anonymously on her doorstep.
The cat seemed to want something from her, crazy as it sounded, and now it had led her to an old departure board in a mall that had long ago been one of the area's largest train stations.
Joanne wanted nothing more then to have the burlap cat and it's secrets out of her life and it was only when she had followed it's apparent instructions that the thing had decided to vanish.
Perhaps if she could figure out what the cat wanted, it would stay gone.
Joanne typed one town after another into a search engine. Most were so large it would take forever to research them. Joanne focused on the smaller towns and learned that most of these were remote outposts containing no more then a hundred people. Some, no longer existed at all.
Quite a few of these places were ghost towns, groups of empty buildings standing out in the middle of nowhere. Many of these towns had been no more then stops on the route to other places and when the trains stopped running through them, people simply picked up and left.
Now that everyone owned cars, people were starting to visit these ghost towns again. Mostly just to take pictures of the buildings before they fell apart. Joanne didn't find any of this especially interesting her thoughts ranged from bored to creeped out, and she seemed not an inch closer to finding out what the old departure board was supposed to tell her.
Quickly she brought up their website.
Shadow Wrangler was a photographer who obsessed over abandoned buildings as evidenced by the pictures on the site – cobwebby chandeliers, wilting ceiling fans and rusted cars laying in fields of tall grass.
Joanne was no stranger to the internet and knew there were far worse things to obsess over. She probed this Shadow Wrangler for every ounce of data.
Judging by the comments this Shadow Wrangler was a guy. He wasn't opposed to trespassing to get the best pics. His twitter feed was full of obscure historical factoids (Snore). He tweeted often, several times a day, but his last tweet was from several days ago. Joanne shrugged – perhaps he was taking a break.
Joanne brought up another post and checked the comments. Someone named Femmbot appeared to be Shadow Wrangler's girlfriend. Femmebot kept whining about Shadow never answering her comments.
Joanne snorted, "He's over you, take a Hint!".
Joanne suddenly noticed a reflection on the black plastic framing the computer screen. She turned and screamed. Sitting on a book case directly behind her was the burlap cat.
The cat appeared to have been made by tying off the corners of an old sack and adding a head. There was no tail, though it might have had one at one time. If it wasn't for the one remaining pointed ear it could pass for a bear, a bear with a missing button eye.
The cat said nothing – it never did – it's only ability was to move effortlessly from place to place when no one was looking.
Joanne put the cat on her lap and noticed the recent comment that filled the screen. Femmbot really seemed to think Shadow Wrangler was in serious trouble. Joanne brought up Femmbot's face book page. Shadow Wrangler, it seemed, didn't have one.
Joanne left Femmbot her e-mail address and a message expressing concern for Shadow Wrangler as well as a request for more information. It was all Joanne could do until morning the next day.
The next day Joanne received an e-mail from Femmbot. It was a long one, for it seemed Femmbot had prepared a statement for anyone seeking to aid in her search.
Shadow Wrangler's real name was Ted Cassidy. He had requested two weeks vacation from his day job and left on one of his ghost town exploring adventures out west.
He was last seen buying supplies for his journey at a gas station in Montana. Femmbot, who's real name was Kate Day, had received calls from Ted till roughly a week ago.
Normally Ted would bring Kate and a few of his fellow ghost town groupies on his wild photographing excursions in the American back country. In fact, it was a rule among them that you never went exploring by yourself. Another rule was that you always told people where you'd be. Yet another, was that you would keep in touch with the outside world.
Until recently, Ted had followed all of these rules, but a few month's ago, Ted started to distance himself from his friends. Kate added that he seemed paranoid. Ted had begun to leave without telling anyone where he was going. He only called Kate because she begged him to.
Ted's parents disapproved of his hobby and were used to not hearing from him for days at a time. Ted's friends were aware of the sudden change in him, but at the moment swore he would come back. Kate called the police but they told her that Ted was an adult who was allowed to disappear if he wanted to.
Kate listed the dangers of derelict buildings and wild nature.
She claimed to be staying in a motel near the last place Ted was seen but was running out of time. Kate said she had explored some near by ruins but wasn't sure exactly where Ted had gone.
Joanne quickly replied to the e-mail listing all of the towns from the departure board.
Joanne preyed she wasn't wasting the lady's time.
Not ten minutes later, Kate sent a response.
Ted had already explored all the ghost towns on the list and quite a few that were still around. Kate claimed that Ted seldom returned to a place he had thoroughly documented and asked Joanne where she had gotten the information.
"What do I tell her?" Joanne said to the cat. Just then the door bell rang. Joanne's Mother had changed the tone to Auld Lang Syne – for New Years.
Joanne's friend David burst into her room and shoved a smart phone into her face.
David was the only other person on earth right now who was aware of the burlap cat and it's powers. Joanne had dragged him into this when she thought the cat was one of his pranks.
David handed his phone to Joanne and smiled smugly. Now that it was becoming clear to him that the burlap cat wasn't going to kill them (at least not yet) David the U.F.O nut was beginning to enjoy himself.
On David's phone was a fuzzy black and white photograph of a little girl sitting in a chair holding what could have only been the burlap cat in it's younger days.
David began to explain – "This photo was taken by Miller Mans. He was a photographer in the late eighteen hundreds. Miller liked to travel around and photograph nature but earned his living taking pictures Of People and their kids. Not many people know about Miller. He is kind of obscure, but his family has a small museum dedicated to him. The Lady who runs the museum saw my picture of the cat on Face book and sent me this. She says it was probably one of Miller's unclaimed commissions AKA – a picture he took for someone who never came to pick it up after it was developed. They keep a lot of his commissions in the attic because people will only pay to see his skulls – hipsters call him the Georgia O'Keeffe of the Camera. No one who doesn't work at the museum would have ever seen this picture. I asked them who the little girl was and they said they didn't know. The back of the print is only labeled "Macon Montana, 1884." David tapped his phone and showed her the back of the print.
They sat together in silence until David got up and left, taking the cat with him. Though Joanne knew it would almost certainly come back.
Joanne didn't hear from Kate again until the next week, when she received a news video.
Ted Cassidy was found, exhausted but alive, after being trapped for eight days in the forgotten basement of a leveled building. The basement was all that was left of the town of Macon Montana. Ted had lost his phone eight days ago when the ground he was standing on collapsed sealing him in a small space under a ton of rotten wood and brick. This had happened on the nineteenth, the same day Joanne had only looked at the cat on a corny occult website – only have it arrive anonymously in the mail. Fortunately Ted's pack had been full of water and food, and he was expected to make a full recovery.
Kate had not mentioned Joanne, only said in an interview that a mysterious person had contacted her via the internet, and mentioned Macon. Kate had never heard of Macon, but a local police officer who's grandparents used to live there, recalled how to find it, and drove Kate Day out to the site of the old town.
Ted was soon heard calling for help and was rescued from what the reporter described as an old photography lab, frozen in time.
After watching the video, Joanne saw there was a message from Kate.
Ted wanted to speak to Joanne – soon and in person. He insisted that she not contact the media.
This story references the earlier episodes.
It may be read with the other installments or by itself.
See "Burlap Cat" under the "categories" widget.
Joanne could do nothing but stare at the pile of brightly wrapped packages. This year, Santa (or a far more sinister force) had brought her something most unwelcome.
That something was an ancient toy cat made of burlap. It had a large head and a small body, a missing ear and a missing button eye.
Joanne kicked the thing under a table when her parents came down the stairs. She was not one to leave her problems lying around for others to see.
Joanne then had a fuzzy moment with her family, opening presents and pretending not to be scared out of her wits.
It was not until her parents had returned to their room, to get ready for the big Christmas party later on, that Joanne was able to collect herself.
Joanne neither expected or wanted the thing to speak, but she hoped for a sign – a clue, as to how she might banish it for good.
It all started a week ago when her friend David had shown her a website that sold supposedly haunted items. Joanne had only looked at the burlap cat, then three days later it arrived at her door, in an open, unmarked box.
David laughed at Joanne and swore it had been a mistake. He named the cat Marvin and suggested they contact the site that was selling it.
The owners of the site claimed they never had anything like the burlap cat for sale, but they offered to buy the thing for fifty dollars.
Before Joanne could ship it off, the burlap cat somehow managed to leave her house.
The cat reappeared in the arms of David's two-year old cousin Randy as he was getting his picture taken with Santa at the mall. Joanne and David had been the only ones watching him. Randy ran off with the cat when they asked to see it, disappearing into the crowd.
Joanne and David had cornered the boy in a deserted section of the mall. Randy was safe, and willing to give up the cat, which he had also named – Marvin. If David had been playing a Joke he would have admitted it then – instead he took the cat and shipped it himself.
Joanne had been given two days of restless worry.
It was almost a relief to see the burlap cat again. At least now Joanne could know for certain where it was.
The door bell rang – We Wish You A Merry Christmas – and then David let himself in. He was white even before he saw the cat. Joanne feared to ask what was wrong.
Instead of speaking, David handed Joanne a sheet of printer paper. It was an e-mail from the owners of the site, the very people to whom they had sold the cat, the people who would have still had the cat if the world was a place that made sense.
Joanne read the printout. It was very brief and to the point.
Without saying a word, David grabbed the Burlap cat and headed for the door.
Joanne still didn't let go of his sleeve.
David smiled back. Then left the house. He had people of his own who expected to see him in good spirits.
Joanne tried to think about what kinds of cookies and pies her aunts would bring. They thought she was too skinny. Joanne took it as a complement, and as an excuse to live a little.
Joanne retreated to the bathroom to fix herself up. To Joanne fancy dress meant blue jeans without holes and T-shirts without wrinkles. Toss in a hat and some cheep plastic jewelry and she would be ready to meet a queen.
"There is my hippie princess!" said Joanne's Grandfather later that day as he handed her a twenty-dollar bill. "Merry Christmas!" Joanne made her way past her relatives to the kitchen where she started to pile all manner of delicacies on to a paper plate.
A Toy train whistled around the living room, beside enough doll houses to make up a small city. All the younger children had brought their newest treasures, and Joanne recalled how her dragons once rained fire down upon toy land.
A familiar name distracted Joanne from her slice of chocolate pudding parfait. It sounded like "Marvin".
There seemed to be a fight among her youngest relatives. She hovered behind the couch and listened in.
"He wants to ride the train!" Whined a smaller girl who was clearly feeling left out.
A bossy older boy took the train away from the girl and set it carefully back on the track.
The mall used to be a train station.
Joanne recalled what little randy had been doing when she and David had caught up with him.
"I found a train!" Randy had said as he peeled paint off of a wall to expose an old poster.
Maybe the cat had been trying to tell them something, something about the mall.
Joanne had a bad feeling.
The toy train sped toward Joanne.
Balanced atop the engine was – the Burlap cat.
Joanne knew it would somehow escape David. She didn't know how the cat was able to travel from place to place. Neither of them had ever seen it move.
The girl went back to her own doll.
Joanne was once again disturbed by the fact everyone called the thing Marvin.
Joanne ended the call and pocketed her phone. David never used words like "Stay strong" they seemed far too cheesy. David was too strung out to act cool. This made Joanne afraid too.
Joanne gripped the cat-like she was holding off a Lynx. She looked it in the black, button eye that was dripping dried glue.
Joanne woke the next day to find the cat had vanished. The surge of relief almost made her forget that she had made a promise.
"Are you sure it didn't just fall behind the bed?" said David as Joanne arrived at the mall with her two other friends Shelly and Eric.
Jo would have to choose her words carefully to avoid arousing the suspicions of her friends.
Shelly wanted to shop for shoes and Eric always followed Shelly, so it was all too easy to ditch them.
Joanne never thought she would miss Eric's lost puppy routine or Shelly's tendency to shoot down all of her jokes but now they seemed so normal and safe compared to what she and David had stumbled into.
The both of them agreed that they probably had not seen the last of the burlap cat, and that people would think they were crazy if they asked anyone else for help. Given the situation, it was probably in their best interest to learn as much as they could.
The building that contained the mall was huge. Most of it was still empty. The empty parts were roped off, forcing people to crowd into shops in pursuit of post-holiday bargains.
The mall was new but the building was not. As Joanne recalled the place had been saved from the wrecking ball by some historical society or another. More stores were added all the time. Still places remained behind walls and plywood partitions, places not completely given over to the modern world.
It was in one of these places they had lost Randy, only to find him again at the end of a dark, dilapidated hall. Randy was safe but what would become of them if they pushed their luck?
Joanne reminded herself that the only thing to fear was mall security as they slipped unnoticed behind the same partition they had slipped behind in pursuit of Randy.
They were now in the part of the mall that was yet to be opened, the part that was still half-way between old and new. Paint flecks covered the floor like leaves in a forest. Statues and benches were wrapped in plastic and the air seemed even colder than the air outside.
"Do you remember where it was?" said David to Joanne. "Not really" she admitted.
When chasing Randy, it had all been a blur.
They retraced their steps past loose tiles and stacked plywood, past empty alcoves that might someday contain stores.
Something caught their attention from far off.
In the gray light of the high windows a detailed landscape came into focus. A railway bridge spanned a ravine, and old-fashioned train engine huffed and puffed across it.
It suddenly dawned on Joanne.
The train in the painting had seemed like part of an old poster when Randy peeled the paint off of it, but there had been more than just a poster hiding behind all that paint and plaster.
The workers fixing up this part of the building had found Randy's train. The train was part of a much larger painting that covered the whole wall.
Part of wall was covered in an ancient chalkboard.
Numbers were painted on this chalkboard, numbers and the names of cities.
Some of the cities were places Joanne had never heard of.
"Maybe they were trying to protect the painting by covering it up." Whispered Joanne.
"Could be." said David. He started to take pictures of the old train bulletin with his phone.
He stood on a bench to get a better view.
In their excitement they almost missed the sound of footsteps coming toward them.
"Sssssshh, you hear that." said Joanne as she dragged David off the bench and into an empty store. The two hid behind crates as a pair of uniformed figures walked slowly past.
"Just what is your problem, Ben." said one the guards to the other.
The guards retreated down the hall.
David and Joanne sneaked back to the public section of the mall when the guards were out-of-the-way.
David studied the screen of his phone as they sat silently amid the noise of the food court.
There was something about the ancient train bulletin, something they were meant to see.
Joanne relaxed in the quiet comfort of the crowded restaurant. Sylvan's always managed to be noisy and yet somehow serene. There was nothing to do except make conversation and stare at the odd, vintage knick- knacks lined up on shelves nearly hidden by the shadows on the ceiling.
The menu offered every kind of food imaginable, from local favorites, to the exotic and trendy. Joanne always ordered vegan, not that she was a vegan. Saying the word just made her feel hip and sophisticated.
Her parents laughed and joked with each other. This was supposed to be family time but Joanne made no attempt to join the conversation.
Mere hours ago something had stepped – uninvited – into her life.
That something preoccupied her constantly.
Joanne feared her secret might slip if she answered too many of her father's questions. He was just trying to seem interested in the affairs of an average teenage girl. Joanne could use some advice but hers wasn't a problem an adult could understand. Heck, hers wasn't a problem anyone could understand.
Right now she wanted to lose herself in the drone of happy people and the promise of great food, but the jingle bells ring of her mother's phone brought it all back.
Joanne told her parents what they wanted to hear. The rain had caught her as she checked the mail. She had run home and forgotten her bike. A car must have struck it. She was given the usual lecture about not going out in rainstorms no matter how much you wanted those Christmas cards (and the cash they contained). Neither one of them seemed to care about the expensive bike she had ruined and were just glad their daughter wasn't road kill.
Joanne's problems would rest for the time being, allowing her to enjoy a truly spectacular plate of rice pilaf and the complementary bowl of fried bananas.
Joanne kept a death grip on the phone.
Three days ago David had shown Joanne a website that sold Items reputed to be cursed.
An ancient stuffed cat made of burlap had caught Joanne's attention. Joanne had made no attempt to buy the thing, yet four hours ago it arrived in a battered, unmarked box.
At first it seemed David was playing a prank. Joanne had forced him to take the creepy thing back, though he claimed the site had just made a mistake. David named it Marvin and had teased her with it until she left his house, hoping to never see the thing again.
Joanne had stopped at her neighbor hood mail box on the way home from David's.
Joanne had been startled to see the cat resting on a post as if waiting for her.
She ran, just as a truck struck the mail box and smashed her bike.
Joanne had then tucked the cat under her coat and raced home, Not sure of what else to do with a thing that had apparently saved her life.
It was still resting on her bed as far as she knew, having thankfully not followed her to Sylvan's.
David had promised to contact the site where Joanne had first seen the Burlap cat, if only to prove she was just being paranoid.
What David had to say now, however, did nothing to dismiss her fears.
Joanne still feared the cat greatly. She would do without hit and runs and burlap cats if she could.
David shouted. "Hello!" "Augh!" barked Joanne. He whispered. "Sorry, but you weren't answering. So how about it? All the money can be yours. I'm reaping a small fortune this Christmas." Joanne couldn't answer. It had all come at her so fast. What she needed was time to think. She ended the call. There was a text but she ignored it. Joanne eventually had to turn off her phone.
Joanne reluctantly emerged from her place of safety. Like it or not, David was the only person who at least partly understood her situation. He turned on the television when she entered the living room, perhaps to mask the sounds of what would be a very odd conversation.
David smiled at Joanne the way he smiled at old ladies who swore they had seen ghosts. He was preparing his "are you sure it wasn't your dog" routine.
David left and Joanne returned to her room. She threw herself across her bed, right beside the burlap beast that had her so worried. To think she could fall asleep in the same room with it, Joanne really was the great Jo Jonson.
Early the next morning Shelly and Eric arrived with David, David's parents, and several small, annoying children who seemed to be even less enthused to be there then Joanne's older friends. "All aboard the Polar Express!" Shouted David as Joanne shrugged into some fresh clothes.
Joanne was a sucker for flattery. She left the house and squeezed into the large van waiting outside. A hyperactive two-year old smacked her with an elf doll until she took it away. David slid in beside her. "My cousin's a handful so we'll both be in charge of him." David handed the doll back to the boy. "You like to run off, don't you, Randy." Randy smiled, now seeming to be the picture of innocence.
Shelly was present with a niece and two sisters, one of whom was six and absorbed in a video game.
Joanne didn't know Shelly very well. She was a relative of David's and a total buzz kill.
Eric was in charge of his siblings, twins that bickered constantly. He was mostly a fun guy, but his insistence on following Shelly around made him less so.
The mall, a monstrous, castle-like building, was every bit as crowded as Joanne expected it to be. They waited for what felt like hours for the stupid pictures with Santa, only to have Randy start crying at the last-minute. Joanne wondered if this was more about having the perfect Christmas card photo then any real fun for the kids.
The snow pit was a hit though, at least with Randy. The other kids complained of being cold and wet and opted to ride the carousel instead, leaving Jo and David to fend for themselves at the less popular end of the food court.
It sounded like a joke but Joanne took it seriously. "Where?" David caught her as she left her seat. "That kid over there, see? It's just a Hello Kitty." Joanne shook him off and headed for the snow pit.
It was not just a Hello Kitty.
The girl laughed at Joanne and tossed it to another kid.
Joanne had no intention of joining a game of keep away, so she waited at the entrance to the snow pit. Joanne wasn't sure what would be the best way to handle this, but one thing was certain. She couldn't let the burlap cat out of her sight.
The cat was eventually passed to Randy, who seemed to want to give it to Joanne. The boy climbed through the snow in his bulky blue coat, but veered past her at the last-minute, disappearing into the crowd.
"Crap" Said David as he appeared beside Joanne. They ran through the throngs of people desperately searching for the missing boy.
Jo soon caught sight of Randy's red scarf. He was inching along the wall giggling to himself.
They both raced toward him. Randy squeezed under a partition as soon as he was discovered. David grabbed the large canvas wall (on to which a holiday scene had been painted) and dragged it sideways. Joanne secretly hoped security would come running. They could use extra help catching randy.
Behind the canvas wall was an empty space used for storage. Toward the back was a plastic curtain. Randy pushed past it.
David climbed over covered crates with Joanne close behind him. They emerged into the deserted right wing of the mall. The wing was currently under renovation. Thick sheets of plastic covered everything like ice. Dust hung like mist in the air. Randy's shadow disappeared around a corner.
Joanne and David tried to keep up but by the time they rounded the bend he was gone.
Joanne caught her breath. "Is there a number we can call for security? Have them watch all the doors or something." David ran into an empty store and emerged empty-handed. "I've got a number for the police – but by the time they – " Joanne left when she heard a noise. David started to dial. Joanne heard the noise again. Both shouted "Randy!" at the top of their lungs. A small voice called, "Just a minute!" They flew toward the source of the sound.
Randy was standing on a tarp-covered bench, picking peeling, white paint off the wall behind it.
"I found a train." he said, pointing to part of an old poster somewhat exposed by the paint.
They started to walk back.
"Marvin!" Shouted Randy as he reached for the toy he'd left on the bench.
Joanne had completely forgotten, about the burlap cat.
David was frozen, both by the sight of the cat and the fact Randy had chosen the same name for it.
Randy ignored the tattered, stuffed toy in David's hands, and started to fall asleep. "Okay." said the boy, oblivious to the trauma he had caused.
Joanne didn't know what to say.
David spoke for both of them.
"Joanne, I'm selling this crazy thing to the crazies, any objections?" Joanne shook her head, though she felt slightly guilty inflicting the cat on someone else. At least the people receiving it might know what they were dealing with. Perhaps it would be happier with some occult collector, so happy it would leave her, and those around her, alone.
Joanne expected to see the cat waiting on her bed when she arrived home. The weight of the world fell off her back when she saw that it wasn't. David called that night to say that he had shipped it.
Joanne doubted this was the end of it, but a day passed, then another. The fifty dollars arrived and Joanne soon dared to hope.
Christmas morning however, was not as merry as it could have been, for sitting amongst the presents under the tree was – the burlap cat.
Since some people have expressed their intention to read more of this, I present to you, Burlap Cat – Part Two. SPOILER ALERT! – scroll down for part one. (You can also find it under short stories.) Please read part one first. As I am very proud of it. Oh, and Merry Christmas.
Slanting rain drops beat the south side of the house. Wet leaves stuck to the windows. One episode of Unsolved Mysteries after another played on the living room television. Soon the disk menu reappeared but Joanne did not replace it. A tray of holiday goodies was left untouched on the couch.
Joanne sat with her eyes keenly focused. She tossed another peanut at the thing on the coffee table.
It had arrived in the mail only two hours ago. After she had only looked at it on a seedy, occult website three days before. Save for the strange manner in which it had come, the thing was nothing more then it appeared to be, that is, a burlap cat.
Joanne wasn't sure if it was curiosity that prompted her to actually bring the thing into the house or her irrational fear that it would harm her in some way if she didn't.
Her telephone hummed in her pocket.
"David!" she said, holding it to her ear.
She hung up before he could talk her out of biking over in the rain. David had been present the night she first caught site of the cat. He was the one who had shown her the website. It had been on his computer.
She unpacked her crinkly blue poncho and pulled it over her head, snapping it across her arms. She dropped the game into her back pack, hesitated, then stuffed the cat in there as well.
A soaking wet wind struck her as she opened the back door. She wrestled her bike out of the shed and struggled to build momentum.
Cars rushed by on the slick streets, spraying water and throwing mud. "What the heck am I doing." She wondered. Joanne was afraid, but this was no time to admit it.
David's house was by the *overpass. Joanne often teased him about living under a bridge, but his family was far from poor. Restoring their large Dutch Colonial had been her father's crowning achievement.
She turned down a flagstone path into a garden darkened by the shadow of the highway, and the walls built to control the noise. David claimed he couldn't sleep without it. Joanne was not so inclined. She flinched as an eighteen-wheeler blew its horn.
"I think your over-reacting." said David twenty minutes later as they sipped cider and stared at the cat.
"On a website selling cursed knick-knacks." She reminded him.
The rain beat Joanne as she sped home. David had wanted her to wait it out, but she told him her family was eating at Sylvan's tonight and that Sylvan's was her favorite. It wasn't a lie, but it would have taken more then great food to push her out into this. David's casual treatment of the cat was making her nervous. He could do as he pleased with it, by himself. After all, it wasn't like she didn't warn him.
She passed the neighborhood mail box and decided she might as well. She parked her bike near one of the yellow concrete posts that sheltered it from the road. The box was covered by a tin awning, but the slant of the rain made it useless. She held an umbrella in one hand while she fished for the key to her family's compartment.
The Christmas cards, bills and random junk, fell in an avalanche at her feet.
As there was no way to tell them apart she would have to collect all of it. She dropped her phone. There was a text from David.
Joanne saw something out of the corner of her eye and snapped to attention.
Forgetting everything else she screamed, and ran.
A loud squeal of tires was followed by a crash.
She turned to look, and saw a damaged pickup truck backing away from the crushed mailbox, swerving back on to the road and, speeding away. Her bike had been folded around the post, yanked free, and left with the front wheel bent skyward and spinning.
The cat lay at the base of the post, face down in the mud.
Joanne didn't want to think about what almost happened. What would have happened, if the cat had decided to remain at David's house like a good little inanimate object.
Joanne tucked it under her poncho, and began the long walk home.
Fictions and Depictions: The Burlap Cat.
A bolt of lightning split a tree in the field behind Shelly's house. Joanne had just finished her ghost story and could never have expected such epic timing. Male and female voices were raised in high pitched squeals as the deafening crash shook the earth and rattled the windows of the living room. "Bwha ha!" cheered Joanne over the pounding rain, knowing that the ears of her three friends were still ringing, and that her cheesy, triumphant laughter would go unnoticed.
"Holy – " Shelly remembered her parent's were home and quickly changed the word to "Fudge." It would be another minute before the others were up to speaking.
"You know what else is awesome?" said David, reaching for his computer.
David switched on the monitor and pointed it at Shelly "Pew! Pew!" Everyone laughed, except Shelly.
"Alright." said David. They all gathered around the screen. "I found this website that sells ghosts!" "Those aren't ghosts!" Laughed Joanne. "It's just a bunch of random junk." "Junk that's haunted." He whispered. A gleam in his eye. "Dude, you are the very definition of lame!" Crooned Eric, tossing back the long bangs of his mullet. "I know." said David. "but you have to see this, it's hilarious." "Give it here." said Eric. David was forced to let go, least his expensive Mac Book be damaged.
"Listen to this Idiot." said Eric, always yearning to be the center of attention. "He calls himself 'The Lord of Lancashire.' and he is a selling a – 'Very magic, rare warrior sword' that is – 'powerful spirit of Scottish Kilt King.' I wonder if that's Baron von Man dress? Dude, he can't even spell." "I'm sure he meant Celt King." said Shelly. "and Barons are German." Joanne had warned Eric that Shelly was no fun, but Eric had a nasty habit of never saying no to blonds.
Shelly took the computer with intent to return it to David, shaking her head at the screen. "Voodoo doll, possessed painting, candle stick supposedly used to murder ancient Egyptian duchess, cursed ring that slowly kills its wearer – this is stupid." Joanne intercepted Shelly and laid claim to the device. "Your doing it wrong." Joanne cleared her throat. "Ahem – 'Ancient, Pirate, Murder, Chest!'" She searched for another dubious pitch. " 'Medieval torture brush.' How do you torture someone with a brush?" Joanne smiled at Eric, knowing he always had a come back ready. "First you'd have to make sure their hair was really badly tangled." he said. "You speak as if from experience." Observed David. "Is that extra long douche – do biting the hand that combs it?" Eric laughed hysterically, far too fond of jokes at his own expense. This drew the attention away from Joanne and she used the opportunity to try and top that last one.
Ugh, nothing else seemed to be worth mentioning. She scrolled down past the usual china dolls and clowns. Things that were understandably scary ghosts or no, and came upon an entry that was blank. Joanne was fairly sure that it was impossible to place an item for sale on this or any other site without at least some identifying code. She clicked on the empty space. Only a picture came up, a photograph of something propped in a dark corner covered in cobwebs.
A stuffed bear, made of, burlap? No, it was a cat. It's one remaining ear was pointed. It appeared to have been hand made from an old sack, and repaired clumsily over many, many years. The smile had unraveled on one side. Two black threads hung like limp whiskers. One eye had gone missing, the other was a button, crudely glued to the side of it's head. Surplus glue had leaked down it's face.
All in all it looked like the thing would crumble if anyone so much as breathed on it. Let alone tried to ship it. It was all so perfect, this Madam Mumbo Jumbo, certainly knew what she was doing. She checked for the seller's screen name. There was no name either, no price, and no way of contacting said seller. This was not the kind of funny Joanne had wanted to find.
"Let's see what you've found." Eric reclaimed the computer and snorted at what he saw. "Error message – ooooohh, scary. Hey Dave, looks like they might have sold you a lemon." Joanne snatched it back, reset the page, and searched again for the Burlap Cat. The blank space she'd first clicked on no longer existed. She decided to just forget about it.
It was still raining three days later, when Joanne went home to the barn her father had converted into a two-story house. He was off on another construction project. There was a note on the refrigerator saying he'd be back by the weekend. Joanne's mother occasionally weighted tables in the restaurant that was her pride and joy. Now that Christmas was on it's way she'd be in her elf suit greeting the afternoon crowd. There was no school, no homework, and Joanne would have the place to herself.
She pulled out her box set of Unsolved Mysteries. She slipped a disk into the player and made herself a mug of hot chocolate. On her way back to the couch she turned on the tree. It was a jungle of angels and fairies, knights and fair maidens, topped by a gleaming golden griffin she had made herself. The wind howled outside, rattling the wreath attached to the door.
She carefully set down her mug, and the tray of snacks she figured wouldn't contain too many calories, and threw herself across the couch. She stuffed a cookie into her mouth and raised the remote.
Something struck the door – hard.
Slowly, cautiously, she made her way to the window, peering out at the front porch. Her parents did a lot of shopping online, so she wasn't surprised to see a damp cardboard box laying next to the mat.
The box was open, laying on it's side at an odd angle, as if someone had thrown it. No effort had been made to tape it closed. No markings indicated what company had sent it. She turned it over with her foot. Nothing was on the side facing the ground save a few water stains. It fell upright, so that the contents were exposed. Smiling up at her, was the burlap cat.


text:
Justia Forms Business Contracts TTEC Holdings, Inc. Summary of employment arrangements between Richard Sean Erickson
Summary of employment arrangements between Richard Sean Erickson and TTEC Services Corporation effective September 8, 2020. While Mr. Erickson joined TTEC in September 2020, he only recently has been appointed as an Executive Officer whose compensation is subject to disclosure
EX-10.87 3 ttec-20201231xex10d87.htm EX-10.87
HEADS OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
RICHARD SEAN ERICKSON
Mr. Erickson's employment and compensation arrangements with the company are documented via ordinary course offer letter and incentive plan documents that apply to his employment; he does not have a formal employment agreement with the company. Hence, for purposes of this disclosure, the terms of Mr. Erickson's employment are presented in these 'heads of agreement' format.
● Employer: TTEC Services Corporation ("TTEC")
● Role: Senior ranking executive overseeing TTEC Engage business segment
● Title: Senior Vice President and Global Head of Engage
● Compensation:
o Base Salary: $350,000 per annum, payable bi-monthly.
o Sign-on Bonus: $50,000, paid within two weeks of start of employment.
o New Hire Equity Grant: Fair market equity grant in TTEC restricted stock units ("RSUs") equal in value to $600,000, as of close of market on the date of the grant; vested over five years with 40% of the grant vesting on the 2nd anniversary of the start of employment, and subsequent vesting of 20% each, occurring on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th anniversary of start of employment.
o Variable Incentive Pay (VIP): Eligible for cash bonus of up to 60% of annual Base Salary, based on TTEC's annual performance targets, TTEC Engage performance targets; and individual performance goals, as set by, the CEO and approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board; no guaranteed minimum, with overfunding possible based on performance of the business.
o Equity Incentive Pay: Eligible for annual equity grant, in TTEC RSUs, with 60% of Base Salary at a target. The Equity grant may comprise of performance based RSUs for 50% of the total grant value, tied to specific financial targets (Revenue and/or OI and other possible metrics, as determined by the Compensation Committee of TTEC board of directors), over a 3-year period and payable after financial results of operations for that 3-year period have been determined; and time based RSUs for 50% of the total grant value, that vest over a four-year period in equal annual installments of 25%, starting on the 1st anniversary of the grant. No guaranteed minimum, with overfunding possible based on performance of the business.
● Severance: On involuntary separation without cause, and subject to standard releases, eligible for severance pay equal to three weeks of then current base salary for each year of service subject to a minimum severance of 26 weeks and a maximum severance of 36 weeks.
● Restrictive Covenants: Mr. Erickson is subject to customary non-disclosure and non-disparagement undertakings; and non-compete and client and employees non-solicitation undertakings for one year from separation from the company (regardless of reasons for separation) and limited to his scope of responsibilities (TTEC Engage business around the globe). Because of Mr. Erickson's executive role, the client non-solicitation restrictions are broad to include TTEC clients and potential clients (those whom TTEC served or marketed to during Mr. Erickson's term of employment).
● Term and Termination: Employment at will started on September 8, 2020. Each party can terminate without notice.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Good Housekeeping January 1959. Original magazine page. A piece of science history.
Original ad for the first fluoride toothpaste – Crest. Ad campaign featured paintings of kids by Norman Rockwell. This ad features Becky Olmsted.


text:
Buildings & Materials
Land Sinks
Beyond Carbon
Buy Merchandise
Partner Initiatives
Drawdown Glossary
RESEARCH VIDEOS PARTNER INITIATIVES MERCHANDISE Drawdown Glossary
Climate Solutions That Go Beyond Carbon: Reducing Food Waste
Food waste is on the minds of people and organizations all over Georgia, from one of the busiest airports in the world to local governments, leading universities, and innovative businesses. Catch up on the conversation around this climate and social justice issue in this video.
Moderated by Ciannat Howett, director of sustainability initiatives at Emory University, our expert panel for this event includes: Jasmine Crowe, founder & CEO of Goodr; Natasha Dyer, community programs manager for the City of Atlanta; Suki Janssen, solid waste department director for Athens-Clarke County and Polly Sattler, senior sustainability & resilience planner at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Drawdown Georgia Kickoff: Climate Action and Business Leadership in Georgia
The official kickoff of the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, hosted by the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business. Maryam Alavi, Dean, Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. Panelists: Jasmine Crowe Founder and CEO, Goodr, Savannah Seydel Vice President of Sustainability, Better Earth, Nick Pearson Global Head of Energy Policy, Google, Josh Raglin Chief Sustainability Officer, Norfolk Southern.
Drawdown Georgia Business Compact
We've launched the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact with the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business.
The Compact launched with 16 inaugural members during an online panel presentation entitled, "Climate Action and Business Leadership in Georgia," hosted by Dean Maryam Alavi of the Scheller College.
Mother Nature is my Business Partner: A Climate Conversation with Farmer Casey Cox
Agriculture is the number one industry in Georgia, contributing about $76 billion each year to the state's economy. It's critical to our state as a whole, but especially to Georgia's rural communities. When it comes to scaling the solutions to climate change, it's the people on the ground -- those who are running their own farm operations and related businesses -- that understand the stakes and the opportunities better than anyone.
A Conversation with Doug Hooker of the Atlanta Regional Commission
What does the Atlanta Regional Commission do, and how is this organization helping to advance climate solutions in the Atlanta area? In this conversation between Doug Hooker, executive director of the ARC, and Blair Beasley of Drawdown Georgia, you'll learn all about the climate initiatives supported by the Commission, from Climate Conscious Communities to energy efficiency to green transportation alternatives.
Climate Solutions That Go Beyond Carbon: Scalable Solar
Our state is at the precipice of unlocking solar as a major climate solution. In this webinar, you'll hear from the changemakers who are holding the keys, helping us accelerate our best ideas to solve for climate change. How can we ensure that solar projects promote equity and climate justice? How do we protect fragile ecosystems and support biodiversity as we continue to build new large-scale solar installations? What role can Georgia-grown highway solar projects play in scaling these solutions across the country?
Environmental Justice and the Soul of America: An interview with the Reverend Dr. Gerald Durley
The Reverend Dr. Gerald Durley is a member of the Drawdown Georgia Leadership Council, and it was an honor to interview him recently about his beliefs and experiences. Don't miss this intimate video interview with Reverend Durley about his life's work and perspectives on winning hearts and minds in the ongoing effort to solve for climate change.
Georgians on Climate, COVID, and Equity - Highlights
What do our friends and neighbors in Georgia believe about climate change? Are they interested in green energy sources like community solar installations? Do they value our coastal wetlands and our forests, and do they know these natural environments provide climate solutions when it comes to addressing global warming? Do people in Georgia recognize the intersection between climate change and social inequities? Their answers to these questions just might surprise you.
The Science Behind Drawdown Georgia - Highlights
The goal of Drawdown Georgia is to reduce carbon emissions in the state by over a third by the year 2030. Drawdown Georgia is the first significant attempt to try to translate the 100 climate solutions of Project Drawdown into a state-level action plan - why that framework, and how can we accomplish it? And where do we begin to take action on climate? Hear the answers to these questions and more from core members of the Drawdown Georgia research team.
Highlights from the Drawdown Georgia Launch Night
In October 2020, we celebrated the launch of Drawdown Georgia: a long-term, multi-stakeholder climate initiative in Georgia designed to bring business and industry, municipal leadership, NGOs, and others together to accelerate climate solutions in Georgia. The virtual kick-off celebration included an introduction by John Lanier of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a variety of entertainment, and a keynote address from Nathaniel Smith, founder and chief equity officer at the Partnership for Southern Equity. Please enjoy these highlights from this very special event!
© 2022 RAY C. ANDERSON FOUNDATION


Are you a Fully Qualified Teacher (FQT), Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) or Overseas Trained Teacher(OTT) looking to teach GCSE English?
Teaching Personnel are excited to be working with a well-established school in South Liverpool, to appoint a English Teacher. We are looking for passionate and enthusiastic teachers, who have experience of keeping pupils engaged in their learning. Does this sound like you?


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İlker Erbay (* 14. Juni 1984 in Istanbul) ist ein türkischer Fußballspieler. Als Eigengewächs wird er mit Galatasaray Istanbul assoziiert.

Karriere

Verein
Erbay kam im Istanbuler Stadtteil Sarıyer auf die Welt und begann mit dem Vereinsfußball in der Jugend von Galatasaray Istanbul. Im Sommer 2002 erhielt er hier einen Profivertrag und trainierte ab Frühjahr 2003 neben seiner Tätigkeit bei der Reservemannschaft auch mit den Profis mit. Am letzten Spieltag der Saison wurde er vom Cheftrainer Fatih Terim im Spiel gegen Gaziantepspor eingewechselt und gab so sein Profidebüt. Für die neue Saison wurde er an den Erstligisten Elazığspor ausgeliehen. Nach einer halben Saison wurde sein Leihvertrag mit diesem Verein aufgelöst und auch sein Vertrag mit Galatasaray. Im Frühjahr 2004 wechselte er dann zum Drittligisten und dem damaligen Viertligaverein Beylerbeyi SK. Bei diesem Verein verweilte er bis zum Saisonende, heuerte dann beim Ligarivalen Mersin İdman Yurdu an und nach einer weiteren Saison bei Gaziantep Büyükşehir Belediyespor.

Im Sommer 2006 wechselte er wieder zu seinem alten Verein Galatasaray und nahm am vorsaisonlichen Vorbereitungscamp teil. Hier wurde er dann vom Cheftrainer Eric Gerets aussortiert und dann an den Zweitligisten Kocaelispor ausgeliehen. Im Sommer 2007 wechselte Erbay zum Erstligisten Kayseri Erciyesspor, blieb hier eine Spielzeit und zog dann zu Orduspor weiter. Zum Frühjahr 2009 kehrte er dann zu Kayseri Erciyesspor zurück.

In der neuen Saison wechselte Erbay zum Drittligisten Tepecikspor und eine halbe Saison später zum Ligarivalen Fethiyespor.

Später spielte er der Reihe nach für Alanyaspor, Beypazarı Şekerspor und kehrte im Sommer 2012 zu Tepecikspor zurück.

Nationalmannschaft
Erbay spielte fünfmal für die Türkische U-19-Nationalmannschaft.

Weblinks

Fußballspieler (Alanyaspor)
Fußballspieler (Ankara Şekerspor)
Fußballspieler (Beylerbeyi SK)
Fußballspieler (Büyükçekmece Tepecikspor)
Fußballspieler (Elazığspor)
Fußballspieler (Fethiyespor)
Fußballspieler (Galatasaray Istanbul)
Fußballspieler (Gaziantep FK)
Fußballspieler (Kayseri Erciyesspor)
Fußballspieler (Kocaelispor)
Fußballspieler (Mersin İdman Yurdu)
Fußballspieler (Orduspor)
Geboren 1984
Türke
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Yahsat 1A is a communications satellite constructed by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat). It was launched in April 2011 from Arianespace's Guiana Space Centre in Kourou French Guiana in a dual payload launch with Intelsat New Dawn atop an Ariane 5 ECA rocket. Yahsat Y1A is based on the Eurostar E3000 satellite bus and had a launch mass of about 6000 kg. It is intended to provide Ku, Ka and C-band communications to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Southwest Asia. It is in geosynchronous orbit at 52.5 degrees East.

References

Spacecraft launched in 2011
Communications satellites in geostationary orbit
Ariane commercial payloads
Satellites using the Eurostar bus
SES satellites


text:
Officer Brian D. Sicknick
Officer Brian D Sicknick - Politics, Business, Civil, History - Posted: 1 Week Ago
Capitol police officer dies because of Trump protestors
Capitol Police officer dies from injuries after clashing with pro-Trump rioters. A U.S. Capitol Police officer died Thursday after being injured when supporters of President Donald Trump raided the Capitol building on Wednesday, bringing the total number of fatalities to five. Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan released a statement late Thursday confirming the death of Officer Brian D. Sicknick. Ref. USAToday.
Sicknick D Brian Officer
Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick's death investigated as homicide, any charges will be federal. The death of U.S. Capitol Police Brian Sicknick is being investigated as a homicide by federal and local authorities - a development that raises the stakes of the investigation into possible crimes committed during the violent security breach at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Any criminal charges related to Sicknick's death will be federal because the events leading up to it happened on federal property, an official with knowledge of the matter told USA TODAY.
TOPIC: Officer Brian D. Sicknick


Confession Hour with Kai Choyce is an independently-produced and intimately entertaining weekly interview podcast where the funniest people around tell comedian Kai Choyce their biggest secrets.
The most recent 10 episodes are always free on iTunes, Stitcher, GooglePlay, and iHeartRadio. Get unlimited access to older episodes, bonus content, free tickets to live events and more by becoming a VIP!
Subtly incisive LA native Kai Choyce has written for popular humor publications like Reductress and McSweeney's, performed at SF Sketchfest, and was a semi-finalist in the prestigious SF International Comedy Competition.
Besides that, your favorite comedian once pulled Kai aside and whispered "Hey, you're really funny".
Click here to get official CH shirts, stickers & more.
Help keep the show going and get access to bonus content, archived episodes, free tickets to live events & more!


In this News, we present the nonlinear finite element analysis of a major component of the world's largest plasma fusion experimental device called Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) , using ADINA. The component considered is the support structure of the super-conducting coils. The analysis, design and fabrication of the device are undertaken by the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Garching, Germany. The results of these analyses are reported in several publications, e.g. [2,3].
Figure 1 shows the plasma fusion device and its supporting structure. Figure 2 depicts the finite element model of the structure.
For solution of some load cases, the FE model is reduced to 1/10th of the whole system by taking advantage of the symmetry of the structure and loading, and by introducing special boundary conditions using the constraint equation capability in ADINA . Figure 3 shows the representative periodic component used in such analysis.
This model consists of 38,000 eight-node solid elements, 24,000 eight-node shell elements, 12,000 gap elements and 40 contact surfaces. The gap elements and contact surfaces are the sources of nonlinearity in the model.
The model is loaded by electromagnetic forces caused by the electric current in the plasma fusion coils.
A contour plot of the displacement field in the model is presented in Figure 4. The dashed lines represent the undeformed shape of the structure. Figure 5 shows the effective (von Mises) stress in the structure.
Plasma fusion, nuclear reactor, electromagnetic forces, constraint equations, contact, gap element, nonlinear finite element, ADINA.
N. Jaksic and J. Simon-Weidner, Design analysis of the support structure stressed by large superconducting coils for a plasma fusion experiment, Computers and Structures, 81 (2003) 697-714.
V. Bykov, F. Schauer, K. Egorov, P. van Eeten, C. Damiani, A. Dübner, M. Sochor, L. Sonnerup, A. Capriccioli, A. Tereshchenko, N. Jaksic, W. Dänner, M. Rumyancev and D. Zacharias, Structural analysis of W7-X: Main results and critical issues, Fusion Engineering and Design, 82 (2007) 1538-1548.


Cumbria County Council run the libraries in Eden district.
Renew your library book on the Cumbria County Council website.
For details of library activities, opening times, contact details, parking and locations use the links below.
Alston Local Link on the Cumbria County Council website.
Appleby Library on the Cumbria County Council website.
Kirkby Stephen Local Link on the Cumbria County Council website.
Lazonby Library Link on the Cumbria County Council website.
Penrith Library on the Cumbria County Council website.
Shap Library Link on the Cumbria County Council website.
View library locations and opening times on the Cumbria County Council website for the whole of Cumbria.
Find out about the libraries and archives service on the Cumbria County Council website.


* Early technology development significantly contributing to the NASA mission.
* Exemplary collaborative effort in achieving significant technology transfer.
* Exceptional utilization of a NASA-developed technology resulting in a significant commercial application.
Uppladdad: 2007-09-12 06:08:47, av: PeO Sandberg.


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(March 19th, 1:30 p.m. EDT) -- MSC Cruises has confirmed 12 passengers traveling on MSC Splendida were killed in the terrorist attack in Tunisia, and Costa Cruises has confirmed five passengers on Costa Fascinosa were also killed.
The MSC victims include two Colombians, three French, three Japanese, two Spanish, two British and two Belgians. The Costa victims are four Italians and one Russian.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald indicated that one of the victims is a 28-year-old Australian-Colombian dual national studying in Sydney.
A further 13 MSC Cruises passengers are confirmed as injured: one Belgian, seven French, four Japanese and one South African, two of which are in serious condition. "All of them are being assisted in person by members of the MSC Cruises Crisis Team that was immediately sent to Tunis to provide on the ground support," the company said.
The last two missing MSC passengers -- a young Spanish couple -- were found safe after a night in hiding at the Bardo National Museum, where the attack took place. Cristina Rubio Benlloch, who is pregnant, was immediately taken to hospital and she and the child are reported well.
MSC Cruises executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago arrived in Tunis this morning (19th March) to meet the injured and their families and to ensure that they are receiving all the necessary assistance. He also met met the Tunisian Minister of Tourism, Ms. Salma Elloumi Rekik.
Costa Cruises confirmed eight passengers have been injured and are being treated in hospitals.
Fifteen Costa Care Team members are continuing to work closely with passengers and with local authorities.
Costa Senior Vice President Beniamino Maltese is also in Tunis taking care of the companions of the victims and of the eight passengers who are hospitalized.
Costa Fascinosa departed Tunis at 1:55 am on Thursday March 19th on its way to Palma, Mallorca. All passengers have been given the opportunity to disembark in Palma tomorrow (Friday March 20th) and Costa will fly them home.
Costa Cruises has observed a minute of silence at Costa Crociere headquarters in Genoa, in all its worldwide offices and onboard its ships. All the entertainment activities have been suspended onboard its fleet.
The Cruise Lines International Association released the following statement: "All of us grieve with the families and friends of the victims of yesterday's tragic attack in Tunisia.
For many years, CLIA Member cruise lines have coordinated closely with national and international security and law enforcement authorities around the globe to help ensure passenger safety, and they will continue to do so. They also maintain a rigorous set of policies and procedures designed to safeguard passengers and to provide an immediate and effective response to any incident.
As always, CLIA will work with Member cruise lines and the authorities to assess measures that would help to provide additional passenger safety and security. We thank the Tunisian authorities for their assistance in providing aid and medical care to the injured and their families, and we commend Costa and MSC for their efforts to render comfort and aid to their passengers."
According to reports, Tunisian authorities have arrested nine people in connection with the attack, which is being claimed by Islamic State extremists.


I am a Graphic Designer based in Greenville, SC. With more than 30 years of experience in Marketing and Advertising, I deliver effective electronic and print design solutions for large and small companies across the region and across the country.
Starting in the newspaper business in the early 80′s, I was the Creative Services Director for the launch of USA TODAY – a Gannett company – in New York City and Washington D.C.
Since 1990, I have worked as an independent design consultant with many Fortune 500 companies including Coca-Cola, UPS, Kimberley-Clark, among others.
I have created industry award-winning print and web promotions for companies like Mohawk Industries, Sprint, Inc., Ashley Furniture, Circuit City, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Hanes, Huttig Building Products, Price Pfister, RadioShack, National Data Corporation, and LHS, to name a few.
I am passionate about what I do, and my aim is to make your organization look great, help you stand out from your competition and meet your marketing and advertising goals!
Much of my recent focus has been working with client businesses and organizations developing logos, print collateral, and websites that incorporate SEO, analytics, and social media integration.
The WordPress platform has been a predominant medium which offers clients a cost-efficient and effective way to get a site up and running quickly – designed and customized to meet their needs.
I have access to and collaborate with many talented copywriters, programmers, and other developers and use their services if the need arises.
During my down time, I enjoy playing golf, cycling, walking my dogs Max and Mickey, and one of my newest hobbies is photography. You can see some local photos in my blog.
Thank you for taking a look at my work. Hope there is something I can do for you!
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, Dreamweaver, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Adobe Acrobat, Keynote, Numbers, WordPress, Mailchimp and many others.
I'm Going to Yangon, Myanmar!
David Scott, President/ 815 Communications Inc.
I chose Wendy to help refine my personal blog LifeLessonsFromOz.com because she's very knowledgeable about WordPress. She made great suggestions, worked quickly and efficiently, and I'm thrilled with my results! I'd recommend Wendy if you're looking for a savvy, talented designer skilled in technology and social media platforms.
Wendy, Thank you so much for building our custom website. It is everything we envisioned. You listened to our needs and wants and executed it perfectly and extremely fast! You have a vast knowledge of website design and e-commerce and we appreciate your insight and advice. The website has already paid for itself many times. It's an invaluable asset to our company. We look forward to keeping you on as an administrator and helping us with future growth.
I selected Wendy to design, create and launch my website, and I am very glad I did. I could not be happier with the website I now have. Wendy's design sense, technical knowledge, customer-focused approach and project management practices assured me that my website was with a true professional. She was timely, responsive and communicative throughout the project lifecycle. Moreover her expertise in graphic & web site design, tool integration (i.e., analytics, SEO, etc) and the latest technology and look & feel trends gave me the confidence to know my project was in the right hands. Based on my positive experience, Wendy will continue to be involved in my website and other graphic design initiatives as my business grows and evolves over time.
Wendy, Thank you so much for creating my amazing logo for my photography company! It's exactly what I envisioned it to look like! It was perfect! My website gets so many compliments and it's all because of you and your amazing gift!!! You are the best! I will keep referring always!
I engaged Wendy to design and activate a new website for me. It incorporates the traditional features you would see on a real estate website but I wanted something more unique. Wendy listened to my requests and specifics. Then she created an impressive site that I am very pleased with. It includes everything I wanted and is demonstrated with impressive style and substance. I would recommend Wendy without equivocation to anyone. She is very professional and extremely talented!


text:
Vanessa and Laura Marano Open Up About Working on "Saving Zoe" Together
Thomas Doherty's Next Role Is Partly Inspired By His Disney Channel Days
Sara Delgado
Buckle Up, The Conjuring Universe Might Be Expanding Into Even More Spinoffs
Lucy Hale's Epic Throwback Photo Has United All My Favorite TV Shows
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Reveals Just How Big a Secret 10 Cloverfield Lane Was
The actress talked to Teen Vogue about the scariest movie no one knew about.
Isis Briones
Photo: Paramount, Courtesy of Everett Collection
Even if they freak you out, scary movies can often be predictable. Why do characters always think it's a good idea to split up in the middle of the night? Why in the world would you open a creepy-looking basement door? We can go on and on about scary movie clichés, but the thing that makes a horror film so great is its ability to keep you guessing.
Now, what if we told you that the actors of 10 Cloverfield Lane felt the same way throughout the movie's production process?Mary Elizabeth Winstead didn't know what the movie was about prior to auditioning for the role of Michelle, and was only given a link to the script once she agreed to audition. "It was super secret and I could only read it once before it would delete itself, but I read it and loved it," she says. "It was so unpredictable, refreshing, and different. I didn't know where the story was going to take me from moment to moment."
The cast couldn't reveal any details about the movie — no filming, no spoilers, no set photos — until the first trailer dropped at the Superbowl. Go big or go home, right? The trailer's debut may have cut it close with just about a month before the movie's premiere, but the riveting 30-second preview reached millions of instantly-spooked viewers.
Naturally the cast was out of the loop. "In my mind, I was like, no one's going to know that this movie is about to come out, so it was a wonderful surprise," Mary says. "Things started coming out so quickly and now it all makes sense. They had this bigger plan for it all along."
On top of that, the cast barely knew that the movie was even remotely connected to the original Cloverfield, especially since the title wasn't revealed until the end of filming. But that allowed them to see where the movie could go on its own. Mary is quick to point out, however, that 10 Cloverfield Lane is not a sequel. "It's something much bigger than a monster movie," she adds. "I love how it blended everything together. It's not really a standard horror film. It's a thriller, it's a suspense movie, it's a psychological drama."
Plus, working with the legendary J.J. Abrams gave the movie that extra special boost. "My motto has become, 'Always trust in J.J' because he can do no wrong, Mary tells us. "And I've learned pretty quickly, if J.J. has an idea, then it's probably best to run with it."
Next up for Mary? The buzzed-about Swiss Army Man with Daniel Radcliffe. But she also makes sure to balance her on-screen projects with other endeavors, too. "I'm the kind of person who likes to turn it off as much as I can. I like to let it all click in on set and, as soon as the camera stops rolling, just get back to my normal life," she says. She and her band, Got A Girl, released their debut album I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now in 2014. The project was influenced by French '60s pop along with movies from that time period. "There's a certain darkness mixed with a sweetness to the music that we make and I think I'm drawn to the same kind of thing in film."
Related: You Need to Rewatch These Iconic '90s Horror Flicks
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My own personal highlight was my last game for Tyrone. The result wasn't what any of us had hoped for but Mickey told me on the morning of the match that I would be captain for the game. It was a massive honour to lead the team out at Croke Park & it wasn't something I ever expected to do in a Championship match. It is the ultimate honour & something I am very proud to have done.
All the All Ireland wins were special in different ways. To be part of the first Tyrone team to bring Sam to the county is something I will never forget. Winning the first one is always the most difficult &, in the future, Tyrone teams won't feel inferior to anyone because of that win. If we had only won 1 All Ireland people would always say we were a one-off. Winning in 2005 ensured we that could never be levelled at us. We all wanted to dedicate an All Ireland to Cormac & that was in back of our minds in 2005. The 2008 victory was so different to the others because of how far we came over the course of the year. We were constantly told that we were finished as a team & couldn't win an All Ireland without Peter Canavan & Stevie O'Neill. The side in 2008 epitomised everything that a team represents-there was no star player for the opposition to focus on & a new leader stood up in every match.
Overall though the 2003 win was the most important as it paved the way for the 2005 & 2008 victories.
I don't think pressure would be the best word to use as, strangely, I don't think the teams I played for ever felt much pressure. We were always very relaxed in the build up to games, especially the All Ireland finals. Mickey always encouraged us to enjoy the build up to games & I think that showed in how we played.
I would say staying at the top was the most difficult thing. When we won the All Ireland in 2003 we felt that we would continue to improve & that there were more All Irelands in the team. However, the one thing that is a shock to the system is how much each team raises their level of intensity when playing against the champions. It took us a while to come to terms with that. At the top level a small drop in work rate is often the difference between winning & losing. Thankfully our team was very self motivated & settling for 1 All Ireland was never an option. Cormac said in our team meeting at the start of 2004 that we didn't want to be looking back on our careers with only 1 All Ireland & those words have remained with the squad ever since.
The 2008 All Ireland quarter final win over Dublin was probably the most satisfying victory. We went into that match written off by most of the country, including our own supporters. At that stage we had scraped through the qualifiers by the skin of our teeth & we didn't look like All Ireland contenders. Everything we did that day worked & we produced an unbelievable performance, arguably our best ever. The obituaries had been written of most of the players & to prove the doubters wrong was very satisfying.
My main focus in every match was always to dominate my direct opponent. As a defender the main job is always to keep your own man quiet & I always set myself the target of doing that. I would always have been fairly good at analysing my own performances & I think that helped me to keep improving as a player. I have never considered myself the most talented footballer but I'd like to think I made the best use of what I was given.
I think a lot of Tyrone's playing style has developed naturally over the years. The majority of the team played from minor level right the way up to senior with Mickey as the manager. His philosophy has always been quite simple with hard work & attacking football being at the forefront. He has always encouraged players to express themselves on the pitch. We obviously took a lot of stick about our defensive approach in the later stages of the 2003 championship but, in my opinion, that came from a lack of belief amongst the players. If you look at the 2003 semi against Kerry, we played some fantastic football in the 1st half. The 2nd half wasn't pretty &, ultimately that came down to us playing with fear. We had never imagined being 7 points up at half time against Kerry.
The level of preparation has increased so much in the last 10 years. Certainly as you get older the amount of time required is greater. The body doesn't recover as quickly & the wear & tear injuries need managed. Last year I would have been doing something every day of the week. A normal week would be an extra speed session with the physio on a Monday night & some treatment, training Tuesday, S&C session & flexibility on Wednesday, training Thursday, S&C session & flexibility on Friday, pool recovery session & flexibility on Saturday, & a game or training on Sunday. I've been very fortunate in that I've got plenty back in return for the commitment though.
We loved playing Dublin in Croke Park & it seemed to show in our performances on the pitch. The Dubs supporters take a fair bit of stick but they bring a unique atmosphere to big matches. One of my greatest memories is the 2005 quarter final replay against Dublin. Dublin had scored something like 5-6 points in a row to come within 3 points. The noise inside the stadium was deafening, you could almost feel the ground shaking. I think most teams would have cracked in the same circumstances. At the time I remember thinking to myself that they were getting carried away as I had no doubts that we would win the match & Mugsy got a goal shortly after to finish the game.
I don't think the rules of the game need changed. The media seem intent in criticising football which is in stark contrast to hurling pundits who constantly praise their own game. The rules of the game are not the reason that some teams defensive tactics have worked. Donegal's tactics were roundly criticised last year. We showed in the opening 20 minutes of our Ulster Semi last year how to play against it. It was our own inadequacies after that that allowed their tactics to stifle us. The amount of deliberate fouling is something I would like to see stamped out of the game though. Cynical fouling slows down the game & some players seem to do it every game without punishment. A suspension after a certain number of bookings could combat the amount of fouling.
I think Mickey has identified Peter Harte as the player the team should be built around. The key is finding out how best to utilise him. To date Tyrone have played a half forward at No. 6 & given Peter a free role. You could see how great a player he was going to become straight away when he entered the senior set-up. He has it all – great vision, can beat a man, kick scores, brilliant tackler & brave.
We all recognised last year that we needed to step up a level & the players have put in a massive effort to date this year. From talking to a few of the lads the intensity of the training has also been stepped up. They look really fit at the minute & the new players have injected genuine pace into the team. With Tyrone's style of play, pace is vital & they seem to have that all over the pitch at present.
Obviously Peter has taken on the management job of Fermanagh & been very successful to date. He was always someone who was likely to move on to inter-county management. He instantly gets the respect of players due to his achievements in his playing career. On top that his leadership qualities are unquestioned, while he has always had a very astute football brain. Brian Dooher & Ryan McMenamin are both natural leaders & I wouldn't be surprised to see them move into management, while Ciaran Gourley has already been very successful with St Patrick's Academy. But it is very difficult to know how successful someone will be in management. Being a good player doesn't necessarily mean you will be successful in management.
I would only ever see myself managing my own club. I would be more interested in training a team as that side of the game has always intrigued me. I see it as a great challenge to try & improve players out on the training pitch & have them peaking at the right time of the season.
I think players need to be careful themselves about what & how much they say on social media sites. It has caused problems in other sports where players have ended up getting fines for things they have said. As long as a player is sensible about what they say then I do not see any problems. Personally I would always have been very careful about what I said when I was still playing for Tyrone. You don't want to be criticising another team or player as it may give them motivation further down the line. Since I've retired from county football I would be a bit more willing to give my opinion on issues.
I believe there was a need for the GPA 7-8 years ago as some county's weren't treating their players correctly. As a county player all I wanted was adequate training gear, mileage expenses to be paid on time & good tickets for Championship matches for my family & friends. In Tyrone we were treated well the majority of the time. My opinion changed when the GPA balloted their members about whether they should go on strike if the GAA did not back their campaign for government grants. I think something like 90% of those that voted were willing to go on strike. I personally voted against it & the majority of Tyrone players that I spoke to at the time didn't even bother to vote. I felt the GAA should have stood firm as the players would never have went on strike, certainly not the Tyrone players anyway.
I played for Tyrone because I love the game & my county. I dreamt about wearing the Tyrone jersey & winning an All Ireland from I was a child. I never needed a grant from the government to play for my county. The GPA's argument is that players suffer financial loss because of their commitment to our games. From my own perspective, I would say I have gained financially from my involvement with Tyrone & the same would be the case for the majority of players on a successful team.
In my opinion the GPA would be willing to see a move towards professionalism if it was financially viable. I think that would take away everything that is great about our games. I've seen the pride that the people of Moy have in our achievements with Tyrone & it is the grassroots of our association that is the most important aspect. Professionalism would ultimately take away everything that is great about our association.
I think the current situation of provincial champions having no second chance is correct. If anything we need to shorten the inter-county season. If you look at the Ulster Championship this year, the first match is on 20th May & the first semi final is not until 24th June. The preliminary round & first round matches could easily be played in half that time but ultimately gate receipts are the main driver at present. I would like to see the All Irelands finished up by the end of August. The fixture calendar is the biggest challenge for the GAA to solve going forward. In 2008 I played my last game for the club on 14th December & was back out in the McKenna Cup in the first Sunday of January. Some form of compromise needs to be reached so that the club season is completed earlier & club championship is played in good conditions.
I was delighted to play in the Compromise Rules in 2005 as it meant that I was able to represent my country. However, beyond that I don't see what benefit it brings to our games. From a spectator viewpoint I don't think it is an enjoyable game to watch. It also comes at a time of the year when club championships are being completed. We need to remember our games do not have an international aspect outside of the Irish that have emigrated. We should concentrate on maintaining the international clubs that do such great work in keeping our games going.
Like everyone I would prefer if no GAA players were moving to the AFL. We all want to see the best players playing & promoting our games. However, there is no way that the GAA can prevent this from happening. I would never try to stop someone taking up an offer to play in the AFL. The opportunity to play professional sport would be very attractive & does not come about too often. It is not something that would have appealed to me personally though. To move to the other side of the world on my own, away from family & friends is not something I would have done.
When Cormac died I lost not only a teammate, but a great friend. Everyone has to deal with death at some stage in their life & it was incredibly tough. I've always said though that we were all lucky in that there were 30 other people going through the same loss & that kind of support cannot be underestimated. As a group we helped each other through it & we had football as an outlet. I have no doubt that Cormac's death made the group stronger & helped us over the line a few times. As a group we had that intangible that no other team had.
We all wanted to win the All Ireland in 2004 for Cormac but Mickey never made it a crusade. If we had constantly talked about winning the All Ireland for Cormac it would seem like we had let him down by not doing it. His name would be mentioned on occasions but I remember the night before the 2005 final when Mickey asked us to get into groups & write down the reasons why we wanted to win the All Ireland. I remember at the end saying to Mickey that we wanted to win it for Cormac, it seemed the right time to say it. Thankfully we did it for him.
Mickey played a massive role in guiding us through Cormac's death & the fellas that were involved in the 1997 minor team said it was the same after Paul McGirr's death.
Michaela's death was very different though as we had to help Mickey & family through. It is at times like that that you realise how special the bond is between the group.
I knew Cormac from when I was 7-8 years old going to the youth club in the Moy. Our lives followed a very similar path thereafter as we both played school football together in St Patrick's Armagh, played minors, U21's & senior with Tyrone, as well as Sigerson football with Queen's. Cormac was one of the most dedicated footballers I've played with. He constantly looked at how he could improve his own game, he soaked up everything his manager said & he was a born leader.
As a person Cormac was a truly great person. You almost felt inferior to him. He was a really intelligent guy, was well able to have the craic but knew when it was time to be serious. When he was serious you couldn't give him cliché answers. Most of us just answer questions without thinking, but Cormac was always considered in his responses. He challenged you to be honest yourself. He achieved more in 24 years that most people could ever dream of.
It would be easy to not name a single player but one person is head & shoulders above the rest-Peter Canavan. Peter is without doubt the best footballer I've seen & to have played alongside him has been unbelievable. There have been many great players but what's separates Peter from the rest is how good he is at key moments in games-his penalty in the 2003 Ulster final, free kick in the 2005 semi, his point in the 2005 final.
Declan O'Sullivan was probably my most difficult opponent. There are others that have probably given me a tougher time but I probably wasn't playing as well at them times. I played at no. 6 to mark Declan in the 2008 final after having played well against him in the league that year. He is fantastic at running with the ball & so quick on the turn. I really struggled with him in the 1st half of that game.
I would buy Stephen Cluxton if I could get 1 player for Tyrone. I think he is vital to Dublin's success & he was probably the main reason they beat us in the last 2 years. His kick outs are exceptional & no matter how hard we tried to counteract them, he always found a teammate. On top of that he is one of the best shot stoppers about.
If I was to sell a player it would have to be Cathal "Gorgeous" McCarron just for making everyone else look ugly. On top of that it would give him more time to tweet, he's a bit of a twitter #addict!
It is a very difficult issue to deal with by its very nature. I don't think any true Gael would like to see payments to managers become legal. However, the majority would not expect an outside manager to manage their club or county team for nothing. I think what most people have a problem with is the manager who is solely interested in money. Everyone could name several managers that do the rounds of the club circuit & make a fortune out of it, yet the club gets little in return. The drive for success though will mean that there will always be a demand for such managers.
I think Tyrone are certainly favourites for the Ulster title this year with Down & Donegal probably their biggest challengers. This year is Tyrone's best league campaign for some time but we must remember it is still Division 2 football they are playing. The most pleasing aspect from a Tyrone point of view is how many big victories they have had. Over the last couple of years most of our league wins were in tight matches & the team seemed to be missing that ruthlessness. They have been putting up big scores without Stevie O'Neill & Sean Cavanagh playing much. At present Dublin, Kerry & Cork are the top 3 teams in the country but Tyrone are much closer than they were at the end of last year. The signs are definetly encouraging at present.
It probably comes down to how you define success. I started playing for the club seniors in 1998 & we have spent 12 of 15 years in senior football since then. For a club our size that is a fairly good run. However, our club suffered massively with up to 4 of us playing for the county team. We do not have a massive pick & to have 4 of your best players missing from some matches, as well as the majority of training sessions is very difficult. Our performances in the senior championship have certainly been disappointing, especially in the last 2 years.
We are in Intermediate football this year & it may be the last opportunity for a lot of our players to get some club success. I have already lost 2 intermediate finals with the club so hopefully this year we can get back there & make it third time lucky. Our team has become relatively old over the last couple of years & we have some good young players coming through that should re-energise the team.
You have to admire Dublin for how far they have come in the last couple of years. They had suffered so many crushing defeats in big games. The big change has been in the level of workrate within the team. Hard work has become the mantra of the team & they've really improved in the mental side of the game. You always felt that Dublin were great when things were going well but they lacked real leadership when it came to key moments in a match. Now the opposite is probably the case.
I personally don't think Dublin will win the All Ireland this year. It is very difficult to defend the All Ireland, even more so when it is the first Sam for the players. In 2004 we believed that we had done everything right in getting ourselves ready to defend the title. However, no matter how much you try to replicate the work rate & manic drive from the previous year, it is only natural that it will drop off slightly. The same hunger just is'nt there.
As to whether they can go on & dominate over the next decade, I'm not sure. Dublin's key players have reached their prime at this stage & will not be playing in 5 years time. They will need players like Paul Flynn & Diarmuid Connolly to develop into the leaders of the team. I think they will win another All Ireland in the next 2-3 years but I think next year is a more realistic target.
If you mention my name to any Armagh supporter that incident is probably the first thing that comes to their mind. I wouldn't say it annoys me, but it certainly does frustrate me the way I was portrayed after the incident. I've had plenty of people give me abuse on nights out about it but thankfully I'm sensible enough to ignore them.
Some people have questioned why I ran at Diarmuid. Himself & Conor Gormley were tangling with each other & Diarmuid swung a punch at Conor which missed. I shouldn't have run at Diarmuid but then again how many players wouldn't react? My intention was to push Diarmuid out of the way but he struck me on the jaw first. For anyone to say I dived is total nonsense. It is just a pity that the cameras didn't get the incident clearly.
Plenty of things have been said about me since that incident & Joe Kernan had a dig at me in his autobiography which probably disappointed me the most. In the 2005 Ulster final replay I was concussed from a punch from Paul McGrane which he later got suspended for. Despite not being able to remember 25 minutes of the second half, I still wrote a letter in Paul's defence for his appeal at the request of Joe. Unfortunately that was not worthy of being included in his book.
* I would greatly appreciate it if guests reading this segment could leave some feedback on it and let us know what you think.
Folks, i would firstly like to say a massive thanks to Philip for agreeing to complete this Q&A session with us, he would have been well within his rights to ignore a request from a GAA forum, however he didn't and i must say he has given us some brilliant answers and a wonderful insight into the mind of an Inter-County GAA player. He has been a pleasure to deal with from start to finish and is just the same on Twitter, if you are on there then get following him on @PhilipJordan7.
Thanks to you all for asking questions, not all were selected however as the numbers were too huge so we had to select the most relevant ones so apologies if yours is not on there.
Please let us know what you think of the interview, personally i think you asked some brilliant questions with Philip providing some great answers for us.
Some good answers there, very diappointed that my deep philosophical quastion wasn't asked as it would have given a great insight into how the mind of Phillip Jordan works.
Absolutely brilliant stuff there. Many thanks to Philip Jordan for his time and for the candour, insight and humour - a true insight into the world of top level inter county GAA. A most enjoyable read and probably the best thread the site has seen.
Well done too to Bald Eagle for bringing this feature to the site -it is a real winner!
great stuff altogether, his answers were like his performances on the field, very honest and no hiding away, thanks very much to Philip and to BE for facilitating this great feature of the site.
Great stuff here. Thanks to Phillip and BE.
A big thanks to Bald Eagle for organising and facililtating this excellent interview.
A huge thanks especially to Philly, for his honesty and willingness to answer every question that was asked of him. From the level of detail he has gone into in his answers, it is clear that he spent considerable time on it. For a top player to give his time for free in this way is very rare, but hugely appreciated by all who regularly post on this forum.
Really fascinating reading - thanks again!
[quote="Thomas Clarke"]A big thanks to Bald Eagle for organising and facililtating this excellent interview.
what else would you expect from a Tyrone man TC????
Excellent read alright. Reason the question was not asked Bald Eagle is because in no way did i expect him to admit he dived. Fair play to him thought for writing the letter in defence of Paul McGrane, was not aware of that.
This is very good. Well done to all concerned.
I'm disappointed nobody quizzed Philip Jordan about Tyrone's inability to overcome the mighty Royals over the years?
Loyal2TheRoyal wrote: This is very good. Well done to all concerned.
perhaps you could have forwarded that question on yourself Loyal ??????????????
In hindsight, I should have.
Have you any views on the matter?
That was absolutely top class. I've read though it a couple of times and you can tell that Philip really put time and thought into the answers. I especially like that there was no shying away from any of the tougher questions.
Top sportsman and top man.
Enjoyable read, especially on the 2003 final.
Thanks for taking part Philip and well done again BE.
Insightful observations from Jordan. Excellent Q & A session. Thanks to all concerned.
This is getting some great comments both from here and twitter, i am particularly proud of the fact that my coaching hero, Adrian McGuckin tweeted us to say he thought it was a brilliant read! The man is a complete legend to me and countless Derry people! Great to see that PJ Ward read it and also gave some very positive feedback on it, i think it was a great follow up to his brilliant Q&A!
The brilliant thing about facilitating this is that i get to read all the questions first and more importantly i get to read the replies before they are posted on here!
Thanks all for the replies, I think I am correct in saying that this feature is unique to Global GAA and it is brilliant that GAA people give their time up to answer the questions posed by forum posters. I have a few different people and clubs in mind for the future with the next subject lined up already. I really hope that this feature continues to go from strength to strength and I am certain that all subjects will get the same respect regardless of GAA 'stature'! This is a segment that is facilitated by me but owned by the posters of Global GAA, we are all fans and ask a different type of question to the hacks, keep it up folks and the big names will keep (hopefully) rolling in!!
I think Philip gave some brilliant answers to some potientially difficult questions, he said from the off that he was happy to answer questions on the subjects of Cormac and Michelle and fair play to the man for that. I really respected him as a player before this Q&A and though i only met him once (at the Ulster GAA Writers Awards) i knew he was a decent sort. I have always had a massive respect for that group of players in a sporting sense, it goes without saying that i had admiration for their mental strength to deal with everything thrown at them on and off the pitch! They are winners and fighters and that is what made that group so good.
The fact that this has had more views than all the other In Focus Q&As in less than a day of being live says it all really!!!
Well done BE and Philip.
Well done BE and fair play to Philly for taking part in the Q & A. Great read!
I see Johnston has taken a pop, presumably at Jordan for his comments on Johnston's move, on Twitter "Didn't realise diving and feigning injury in an all Ireland final to get a fellow player sent off was in the ethos of the gaa #potandkettle"
Don't ever wrestle with a pig. You'll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.
While I don't agree with him, i do think that Seanie has as much right to reply, as Philly had to make his point.
Still, getting into a public slangling match with a well-resepcted, modern great of the game, is not the way to go about winning friends and influencing transfers. Further lack of judgement from Johnston here.
» Article: Andrew Wiggins from the Examiner Charlotte, N.C.
» What is wrong with Meath football?


Gather & Gather has won a three-year contract, valued at £10 million, with Edinburgh College for student and staff catering and hospitality across its four campuses. This is the first win in the further and higher education sector for Mitie's catering business.
Edinburgh College, which has 24,000 students, has benefited from an upfront investment of £300,000 by Gather & Gather to transform the catering environments by improving the equipment, furniture and facilities in the college's shops and food courts.
Gather & Gather will also launch a street food van, which will travel around the campuses hosting pop up street food menus from around the world, a ribs and wings menu, noodle bar and regional dishes, throughout the year.
Digital technology will also be introduced to include menu screens, contactless payments terminals and the Yoyo app to allow students to pre-order and pay for their food.
There will also be a new visual brand identity for the college's catering outlets, which will be consistent across all four campuses. This revamp is designed to create vibrant spaces where students can meet and collaborate.
Union Coffee's hand-roasted blend Camino has been introduced, and a new artisan coffee shop will open on the Milton Road campus. As part of its commitment to work with increasing numbers of local suppliers, Gather & Gather will also source coffee and other supplies from businesses within the local region. Vegan inspired dishes will be introduced at the Sighthill campus, as well as a 'grab and go' convenience option at Granton campus.
The company has also pledged to support the college's Hospitality curriculum by providing students with extra learning opportunities, as well as access to industry events and culinary demonstrations to inspire future graduates.
The contract comes with the option to extend by a further two years.


If you are obligated to pay child support to a former spouse or domestic partner you, and your business partners, may be shocked when your business interest is attached by them. Although they may only attach your interest, a former spouse or partner who obtains a judgment against you for past due child support can affect your business by tying it up in litigation and creating strife among you and the other members of your limited liability company (LLC). New Jersey Statute 42:2B-45 allows a judgment creditor to attach the interest of a debtor in any limited liability company in which they are a member. This judgment will not attach to the interest of any other LLC members but litigation as to what your specific interest in the LLC is can create enough tension to result in dissolution, or your being forced out of the LLC by the other members. If you are seeking to collect or defending against collection of a large amount of past due child or spousal support you should contact a family law attorney with small business divorce experience immediately to protect your rights. For more information on child support, spousal support, palimony, alimony, divorce, dissolution of civil union or domestic partnership or other family law matters in New Jersey visit HeatherDarlingLawyer.com. This blog is for informational purposes only and in no way intended to replace the advice of an attorney regarding your specific matter.