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Home / Shoe-Bar Stratton / CHAPTER XXIII
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Shoe-Bar Stratton, by Joseph Bushnell Ames
WHERE THE WHEEL TRACKS LED
Bud Jessup removed a battered stew-pan from the fire and set it aside to cool a little.
"Well, by this time I reckon friend Tex is all worked up over what's become of me," he remarked in a tone of satisfaction, deftly shifting the coffee-pot to a bed of deeper coals. "He's sure tried often enough to get rid of me, but I don't guess he quite relishes my droppin' out of sight like this."
Buck Stratton, his back resting comfortably against a rock a little way from the fire, nodded absently.
"You're sure you didn't leave any trace they could pick up?" he asked with a touch of anxiety.
"Certain sure," returned Jessup confidently. "When Miss Mary came in around four, I was in the wagon-shed, the rest of the crowd bein' down in south pasture. Like I told yuh before, she had a good-sized package all done up nice in her hand, an' it didn't take her long to tell me what was up. Then we walks out together an' stops by the kitchen door.
"'Yuh better get yore supper at the hotel,' she says, 231 an' ride back afterwards. 'I meant to send in right after dinner to mail the package, but I got held up out on the range.'
"Then she seems to catch sight of the greaser for the first time jest inside the door, though I noticed him snoopin' there when we first come up.
"'I hope yuh got somethin' left from dinner, Pedro,' she says, with one of them careless natural smiles of hers, like as if she hadn't a care on her mind except food. 'I'm half starved.'"
Bud sighed and finished with a note of admiration. "Some girl, all right!"
"You've said it," agreed Buck fervently.
His appearance had improved surprisingly in the ten days that had passed since his accident. The head-bandage was gone, and his swollen ankle, though still tender at times, had been reduced to almost normal size by constant applications of cold water. His body was still tightly strapped up with yards and yards of bandage, which Mary Thorne had thoughtfully packed, with a number of other first-aid necessities, in the parcel which was Bud's excuse for making a trip to town.
Stratton was not certain that a rib had been broken after all. When Jessup came to examine him he found the flesh terribly bruised and refrained from any unnecessary prodding. It was still somewhat painful to the touch, but from the ease with which he 232 could get about, Buck had a notion that at the worst the bone was merely cracked.
"They wouldn't be likely to notice where you left the Paloma trail, would they?" Buck asked, after a brief retrospective silence.
"Not unless they're a whole lot better trackers than I think for," Jessup assured him. "I picked a rocky place this side of the gully, an' cut around the north end of middle pasture, where the land slopes down a bit, an' yuh can't be seen from the south more 'n a quarter of a mile. I kept my eyes peeled, believe me! an' didn't glimpse a soul all the way. I wouldn't fret none about their followin' me here."
"I reckon it is foolish," admitted Stratton. "But lying around not able to do anything makes a fellow think up all kinds of trouble. Lynch isn't a fool, and there's no doubt when you didn't come back that night he'd begin to smell a rat right off."
"Sure. An' next day he likely sent in to town, where he'd find out from old Pop that I never showed up there at all. After that, accordin' to my figgerin', he'd be up against it hard. Yuh can bank on Miss Mary playin' the game, an' registerin' surprise an' worry an' all the rest of it. There ain't a chance in the world of his thinkin' to look for me here."
"I reckon that's true. Of course we've got to remember that so far as he knows I'm out of the way for good." 233
Bud took up coffee-pot and stew-pan and set them down beside Stratton, where the rest of the meal was spread.
"Sure," he chuckled, dropping down against the ledge. "Officially, you're a corpse. That's yore strong point, old-timer. By golly!" he added, with a sudden, fierce revulsion of spirit. "I only hope I'll be on hand when he gets what's comin' to him, the damn', cowardly skunk!"
"Maybe you will," commented Buck grimly. "Well, let's eat. Seems like I do nothing but eat and sleep and loaf around. I've a good notion to bust up the monotony," he added, after a few minutes had passed in the silent consumption of food, "and take that trip to north pasture to-morrow."
"Don't be loco," Bud told him hastily. "Yuh ain't fit for nothin' like that yet."
"I did it a few days ago," Stratton reminded him, "and I'm feeling a hundred per cent. better now."
"Mebbe so; but what's the use in takin' chances? We got plenty of time."
"I'm not so sure of that," Buck said seriously. "You say that Lynch thinks I'm dead and out of the way. Well, maybe he does; but unless he's a lot bigger fool than I think for, he's not going to leave a body around in plain sight for anybody to find. He'll be slipping down into that gulch one of these 234 days to get rid of it, and when he finds there ain't any body—then what?"
"He'll begin to see he's got into one hell of a mess, I reckon," commented Jessup.
"Right. And he'll be willing to do anything on earth to crawl out safe. Like enough he'll connect your disappearance with the business, and that would worry him more than ever. He might even get scared enough to throw up the whole game and beat it; and believe me, that wouldn't suit me at all."
"Yuh said a mouthful!" snarled Jessup. "If that hellion should get away—Say, Buck, why couldn't yuh get him for attempted murder?"
"I might, but the witnesses are all on his side, and there'd be a good chance of his slipping out. Besides, I'm set on finding out first what his game is. I'm dead certain now it's connected somehow with the north pasture, and I've an idea it's something big. That car I told you about, and everything—Well, there's no sense guessing any longer when we can make a stab at finding out. We'll start the first thing to-morrow."
Bud made no further protest, and at dawn next morning they left camp and set out northward through the hills. It was a slow journey, and toward the end of it Buck felt rather seedy. But this was only natural, he told himself, after lying around and doing 235 nothing; and he even wished he had made the move sooner.
Both he and Jessup were conscious of a growing excitement as they neared the goal from which circumstances had held them back so long. Were they going to find out something definite at last? Or would fate thrust another unexpected obstacle in their way? Above all, if fortune proved kind, what would be the character of their discovery?
Immensely intrigued and curious, Bud chattered constantly throughout the ride, suggesting all sorts of solutions of the problem, some of which were rather far-fetched. Gold was his favorite—as it has been the favorite lure for adventurers all down the ages—and he drew an entrancing picture of desert sands sprinkled with the yellow dust. He thought of other precious metals, too, and even gave a passing consideration to a deposit of diamonds or some other precious or semi-precious stones. Once he switched off oddly on the subject of prehistoric remains, and Stratton's surprised inquiry revealed the fact that three years ago he had worked for a party of scientific excavators in Montana.
"Them bones and skeletons as big as houses bring a pile of money, believe me!" he assured his companion. "The country up there ain't a mite different from this, neither." 236
Buck himself was unusually silent and abstracted. During the last ten days of enforced idleness he had considered the subject for hours at a time and from every conceivable angle, with the result that a certain possibility occurred to him and persisted in lingering in his mind, in spite of its seeming improbability. It was so vague and unlikely that he said nothing about it to Bud; but now, mounting the steep trail, the thought of it came back with gathering strength, and he wondered whether it could possibly be true.
Advancing with every possible precaution, they gained the summit and passed on down the other side. Before them lay the desert, glittering and glowing in the morning sun, without a sign of alien presence. Keeping a sharp lookout, they reached the little, half-circular recess in the cliffs that formed the end of the trail, and paused.
No rain had fallen in the last ten days and the print of motor-tires was almost as clear and unmistakable as the day it had been made. They could make out easily where the car had been driven in, the footprints about it, and the marks left by its turning; and with equal lack of difficulty they picked out the track made as it departed.
The latter headed north, but Stratton was not interested in it. Without hesitation he selected the incoming trail, and the two followed it out into the desert. For a few hundred yards they rode almost 237 due east. Then the wheel-marks turned abruptly to the south, and a little further on Buck noted the prints of a galloping horse beside them.
"Lynch, I reckon," he commented, pointing them out to his companion. "When he saw me up on the cliffs down yonder, he must have hustled to catch up with the car."
Neither of them spoke again until they reached the spot where Buck had seen the car stop and the men get out and walk about. Here they dismounted and followed the footprints with careful scrutiny. Bud saw nothing significant, and when they had covered the ground thoroughly, he expressed his disappointment freely. Stratton merely shrugged his shoulders.
"We'll follow the back track and see where else they stopped," he said curtly.
His voice was a little hoarse, and there was an odd gleam in his eyes. When they were in the saddle again, he urged his horse forward at a speed which presently brought a protest from Jessup.
"Yuh better take it easy, old man," he cautioned. "If that cayuse steps in a hole, you're apt to get a jolt that'll put you out of business."
"I don't guess it'll hurt me," returned Stratton with preoccupied brevity.
Bud gave a resigned shrug, and for ten minutes the silence remained unbroken. Then all at once Buck 238 gave a muttered exclamation and pulled his horse up with a jerk.
They were on the rim of a wide, shallow depression in the sand. There was nothing remarkable about it at first sight, save, perhaps, the total absence of desert vegetation for some distance all around. But Stratton slid hastily out of his saddle, flung the reins over Pete's head, and walked swiftly forward. Thrilled with a sudden excitement and suspense, Bud followed.
"What is it?" he questioned eagerly, as Buck bent down to scoop up a handful of the trampled sand. "What have yuh—"
He broke off abruptly as Stratton turned suddenly on him, eyes dilated and a spot of vivid color glowing on each cheek-bone.
"Don't you see?" he demanded, thrusting his hand toward the boy. "Don't you understand?"
Staring at the open palm, Jessup's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
"Good Lord!" he gasped. "You don't mean that it—it's—"
He paused incredulously, and Buck nodded.
"I'm sure of it," he stated crisply.
THE SECRET OF NORTH PASTURE
Jessup swallowed hard. "But—but—" he faltered, "there ain't never been any found around here. The nearest fields are hundreds of miles away, ain't they?"
Stratton dropped the lump of sand. A number of particles still clung to his palm, and over the skin there spread an oily, slightly iridescent film. His manner had suddenly grown composed, though his eyes still shone with suppressed excitement.
"Just the same, it's—oil!" he returned quietly. "There's no doubt at all about it. Look at the ground there."
Mechanically Bud's glance shifted to the wide, shallow depression in the desert. The sand was noticeably darker, and here and there under the sun's rays, it held that faintly iridescent glint that was unmistakable. At a distance he would have said there was a spring somewhere beneath the surface. But no water ever had that look, and now that he was prepared for it he even noticed a faint, distinctive odor in the air. 240
"By golly!" he cried excitedly. "You mean to say the whole pasture's full of it?"
"Not likely, but it looks to me as if there was a-plenty. There were traces back there where we stopped, and there's no telling how many more—"
"But I didn't see nothin'," interrupted Bud in surprise.
"You weren't looking for it, that's why," shrugged Stratton. "I was. Thinking it all over this past week, I got to wondering if oil might not just possibly be what we ought to look for. I was so doubtful I didn't say anything about it. Like you said, nobody's ever struck it anywhere around these parts, but I reckon you never can tell."
"Wough!" Bud suddenly exploded in a tremendous exhalation of breath. "I can't seem to get it through my nut. Why, it means a fortune for Miss Mary! No wonder that skunk tried his best to do her out of it."
Buck stared at him oddly. A fortune for Mary Thorne! Somehow, until this moment he had not realized that this must seem to every one to be the object of his efforts—to rid Mary Thorne of all her cares and troubles and bring her measureless prosperity. Ignorant of Stratton's identity and of all the circumstances of her father's treachery and double-dealing, she must hold that view herself. The thought 241 disturbed Buck, and he wondered uncomfortably what her feelings would be when she learned the truth.
"What's the matter?" inquired Bud suddenly. "What yuh scowlin' that way for?"
"Nothing special," evaded Buck. "I was just thinking." After all, there was no use crossing bridges until one came to them. "We'd better get started," he added briskly. "We've found out all we want here, and there's no sense in taking chances of running up against the gang."
"What's the next move?" asked Bud, when they had mounted and started back over their trail.
"Look up Hardenberg and put him wise to what we know," answered Stratton promptly. "We've done about all we can; the rest of it's up to him."
"I reckon so," agreed Jessup. "I never met up with him, but they say he's a good skate. Perilla's some little jaunt from here, though. Yuh thinkin' of riding all the way?"
"Why not? It'll be quicker in the end than going to Harpswell and taking the train. We'll likely need the cayuses, too, when we get there. I've done forty miles at a stretch plenty of times."
"So've I, but not with a bad ankle and a bunged-up side," returned Bud dryly. "How yuh feelin'?"
"Fine! I've hardly had a twinge all day. That 242 bandage stuff is great dope for keeping a fellow strapped up comfortable."
"Well, if you're up to it, I reckon that would be better than the train," Bud admitted. "For one thing, if we take the trail around south of the Rocking-R we ain't likely to meet up with anybody who'll put Lynch wise, an' I take it that's important."
"I'll say so!" agreed Buck emphatically. "The chances are that even if he got wind of you and me being together, he'd realize the game was up, and probably beat it for the border. As long as we can manage to keep out of the spot-light, he may suspect a lot of things, but considering the size of the stake, he's likely to take a chance and hang on."
"Let's hope he don't take it into his head to ride up here this morning," remarked Jessup, glancing apprehensively across the desert wastes toward the south. "That would spill the beans for fair."
The very possibility made them urge the horses to an even greater speed, and neither of them really breathed freely until they had gained the little sheltered depression in the cliffs, from which the trail led over the shoulder of the mountain.
"I reckon we're safe enough now," commented Stratton, drawing rein. "I didn't see a sign of anybody as we came along."
Halting for ten minutes to rest the horses, they started up the trail in single file, Bud going first. For 243 a greater part of the distance the rocky spurs shielded them from any save a very limited field of observation. But at the summit there was an almost level stretch of twenty feet or more from which an extended view could be had, not only of a wide sweep of desert country, but of a section of the northern end of middle pasture as well. Reaching this point, Buck glanced back searchingly. An instant later he was out of the saddle and crouching against the rocky wall.
"Lead Pete around the corner," he urged Jessup sharply. "Get out of sight as quick as you can."
Bud obeyed without question, and Stratton hastily took out his field-glasses and focused them on the three figures he had glimpsed riding along the northern extremity of the Shoe-Bar pasture. He recognized them instantly, pausing only long enough to make out that they did not seem to be in haste, and that so far as he could tell they were not looking in the direction of the trail. Then he thrust the glasses back into the case, and slipping around the buttress rejoined his companion.
"Lynch, with McCabe and Kreeger," he explained curtly, gathering up the reins and swinging himself into the saddle.
"Did they see yuh?"
"I don't think so. They seemed to be taking things easy, and weren't looking this way at all. I wonder what they're up to?" 244
"Couldn't we stick around here for a while and watch them?" Bud asked eagerly.
Buck hesitated an instant. "I guess we'd better not take a chance," he replied at length. "Such a whale of a lot depends on his not knowing that I'm alive and kicking; I'd hate like the devil to spoil everything now by his getting a glimpse of me. Besides, for all we know they may be coming through here to meet somebody—the rest of the gang, perhaps, or—"
"That's right," interrupted Bud hastily. "Let's go. Sooner we're off this here trail the better."
Without further delay they rode on down the slope, paused for a moment or two at the spring in the hollow to water the horses, and then pushed on again. Passing the entrance to the gulch, Jessup glanced that way curiously.
"Mebbe they're on their way to dispose of yore corpse, Buck," he chuckled.
Stratton grinned. "I thought of that, and I rather hope it's so. They'd be puzzled and suspicious, maybe, but they couldn't be really sure of anything. It would be a whole lot better than to have them run across our tracks in the sand back there. That would give away the show completely."
Twenty minutes or so later they reached the gully through which they had come out on the trail. Though there had been no further signs of the Shoe-Bar 245 men, their vigilance did not relax. Pushing on with all possible speed, they covered the distance to the little camp in very much less time than it had taken in the morning.
Here the horses had a brief rest while the two men collected their few belongings and loaded them on the pack-horse, for they had decided to go on at once. Both felt that no time should be lost in finding the sheriff and setting the machinery of the law in motion. Moreover, they were down to the last scrap of food and unless they stirred themselves they were likely to go hungry that night.
An hour later found them riding southward, following the route through the mountains used by the cattle-rustlers. Making the same cautious circuit Buck had taken around the southern end of the Shoe-Bar, they reached Rocking-R land without adventure and pulled up before the door of Red Butte camp about six o'clock.
Gabby Smith was cooking supper and greeted them with his customary lack of enthusiasm. Bud, who had never seen him before, was much diverted by his manner, and during the meal kept up a constant chatter of comment and question for the purpose, as he afterward confessed, of making the taciturn puncher go the limit in the matter of loquacity. His effort, though it could scarcely be termed successful, evidently got on Gabby's nerves, for afterward he turned both men 246 out of the cabin while he cleared up, a process lasting until nearly bedtime.
It was not until then that Stratton, by a chance remark, learned that three or four days after his departure from the camp two weeks earlier, a stranger had been there making inquiries about him. Gabby's stenographic brevity made it difficult to extract details, but apparently the fellow had passed himself off as an old friend of Buck's from Texas, desirous of looking him up. He was a stranger to Gabby, slight, dark, with eyes set rather closely together, and he rode a Shoe-Bar horse. Apparently he had hung around camp until nearly dusk, and then departed only when Gabby got rid of him by suggesting that his man had probably ridden in to spend the night at the Rocking-R ranch-house.
Stratton and Jessup discussed the incident while making brief preparation for bed. So far as Bud knew there had been no stranger on the Shoe-Bar at that time; but it seemed certain that the fellow must have been sent by Lynch to spy around and find out where Buck was.
"I s'pose he went to the ranch-house first and Tenny sent him down here, knowing he wouldn't get much out of Gabby," remarked Stratton. "Well, as far as I can see he had his trouble for his pains. Unless he hung around for two or three days he couldn't very well be certain I wasn't somewhere on the ranch." 247
Save as a matter of curiosity, however, the whole affair lay too far in the past to be of the least importance now, and it was soon dismissed. Having removed boots and outer clothing, and spread their blankets in one of the pair of double-decked bunks, the two men lost no time crawling between them, and fell almost instantly asleep.
"Yuh out last night?" brusquely inquired Gabby, as they were dressing next morning.
A direct question from the eccentric individual was so novel that Buck paused in buckling on his cartridge-belt, and stared at him in frank surprise.
"Why, no," he returned promptly. "Were you, Bud?"
"I sure wasn't. I didn't budge after my head hit the mattress. What gave yuh the notion, old-timer?"
"Door unlatched," growled Gabby, continuing his preparations for breakfast.
"Is that all?" shrugged Bud. "Likely nobody thought to close it tight."
Gabby made no answer, but his expression, as he went silently about his work, failed to show conviction.
"Ain't he a scream?" inquired Bud an hour later, when they had saddled up and were on their way. "I don't wonder Tenny can't get nobody to stay in camp with him. It would be about as cheerful as a morgue." 249
"Must have got soured in his youth," remarked Stratton. "I had to put up a regular fight to get him to look after the pack-horse till somebody can take it back to the ranch-house. Where do we hit this trail you were telling me about?"
"About a mile and a half further on. It ain't much to boast of, but chances are we won't meet up with a soul till we run into the main road a mile or so this side of Perilla."
Bud's prediction proved accurate. They encountered no one throughout the entire length of the twisting, narrow, little-used trail, and even when they reached the main road early in the afternoon there was very little passing.
"Reckon they're all taking their siesta," commented. Bud. "Perilla's a great place for greasers, yuh know, bein' so near the border. There's a heap sight more of 'em than whites."
Presently they began to pass small, detached adobe huts, some of them the merest hovels. A few dark-faced children were in sight here and there, but the older persons were all evidently comfortably indoors, slumbering through the noonday heat.
Further on the houses were closer together, and at length Bud announced that they were nearing the main street, one end of which crossed the road they were on at right angles.
"That rickety old shack there is just on the corner," 250 he explained. "It's a Mexican eating-house, as I remember. Most of the stores an' decent places are up further."
"Wonder where Hardenberg hangs out?" remarked Stratton.
"Yuh got me. I never had no professional use for him before. Reckon most anybody can tell us, though. That looks like a cow-man over there. Let's ask him."
A moment or two later they stopped before the dingy, weather-beaten building on the corner. Two horses fretted at the hitching-rack, and on the steps lounged a man in regulation cow-boy garb. A cigarette dangled from one corner of his mouth, and as the two halted he glanced up from the newspaper he was reading.
"Hardenberg?" he repeated in answer to the question. "Yuh mean the sheriff? Why, he's inside there."
Bud looked surprised and somewhat incredulous. "What the devil's he doin' in that greaser eatin'-house?"
The stranger squinted one eye as the cigarette smoke curled up into his face. "Oh, he ain't patronizin' the joint," he explained with a touch of dry amusement. "He's after old José Maria for sellin' licker, I reckon. Him an' one of his deputies rode up about five minutes ago." 251
After a momentary hesitation Stratton and Jessup dismounted and tied their horses to the rack. Buck realized that the sheriff might not care to be interrupted while on business of this sort, but their own case was so urgent that he decided to take a chance. At least he could find out when Hardenberg would be at leisure.
Pushing through the swinging door, they found themselves in a single, long room, excessively dingy and rather dark, the only light coming from two unshuttered windows on the north side. To Buck's surprise at least a score of Mexicans were seated around five or six bare wooden tables eating and drinking. Certainly if a raid was on they were taking it very calmly. The next moment he was struck by two things; the sudden hush which greeted their appearance, and the absence of any one who could possibly be the man they sought.
"Looks like that fellow must have given us the wrong tip," he said, glancing at Jessup. "I don't see any one here who—"
He paused as a wizened, middle-aged Mexican got up from the other end of the room and came toward them.
"Yo' wish zee table, señors?" he inquired. "P'raps like zee chile con carne, or zee—"
"We don't want anything to eat," interrupted 252 Stratton. "I understand Sheriff Hardenberg is here. Could I see him a minute?"
"Oh, zee shereef!" shrugged the Mexican, with a characteristic gesture of his hands. "He in zee back room with José Maria. Yo' please come zis way."
He turned and walked toward a door at the further end of the long room, the two men following him between the tables. But Buck had not taken more than half a dozen steps before he stopped abruptly. That curious silence seemed to him too long continued to be natural; there was a hint of tension, of suspense in it. And something about the attitude of the seated Mexicans—a vague sense of watchful, stealthy scrutiny, of tense, quivering muscles—confirmed his sudden suspicion.
"Hold up, Bud!" he warned impulsively. "There's something wrong here."
As if the words were a signal, the crowd about them surged up suddenly, with the harsh scrape of many chair-legs and an odd, sibilant sound, caused by a multitude of quick-drawn breaths. Like a flash Buck pulled his gun and leveled it on the nearest greaser.
"Get out of the way," he ordered, taking a step toward the outer door.
The fellow shrank back instinctively, but to Buck's surprise—the average Mexican is not noted for daredevil bravery—several others behind pushed themselves 253 forward. Suddenly Jessup's voice rose in shrill warning.
"Look out, Buck! Behind yuh—quick! That guy's got a knife."
Stratton whirled swiftly to catch a flashing vision of a tall Mexican creeping toward him, a long, slim knife glittering in his upraised hand. The fellow was so close that another step would bring him within striking distance, and without hesitation Buck's finger pressed the trigger.
The hammer fell with an ominous, metallic click. Amazed, Buck hastily pulled the trigger twice again without results. As he realized that in some mysterious manner the weapon had been tampered with, his teeth grated, but with no perceptible pause in the swiftness of his action he drew back his arm and hurled the pistol straight into the greaser's face.
His aim was deadly. The heavy Colt struck the fellow square on the mouth, and with a smothered cry he dropped the knife and staggered back, flinging up both hands to his face. But others leaped forward to take his place, a dozen knives flashing in as many hands. The ring closed swiftly, and from behind him Stratton heard Bud cry out with an oath that his gun was useless.
There was no time for conscious planning. It was instinct alone—that primitive instinct of every man sore pressed to get his back against something solid—that 254 made Buck lunge forward suddenly, seize a Mexican around the waist, and hurl him bodily at one side of the closing circle.
This parted abruptly and two men went sprawling. One of them Buck kicked out of the way, feeling a savage satisfaction at the impact of his boot against soft flesh and at the yell of pain that followed. Catching Jessup by an arm he swept him toward one of the tables, snatched up a chair, and with his back against the heavy piece of furniture he faced the mob. His hat was gone, and as he stood there, big body braced, mouth set, and hair crested above his smoldering eyes, he made a splendid picture of force and strength which seemed for an instant to awe the Mexicans into inactivity.
But the pause was momentary. Urged on by a voice in the rear, they surged forward again, two of the foremost hurling their knives with deadly aim. One Stratton avoided by a swift duck of his head; the other he caught dexterously on the chair-bottom. Then, over the heads of the crowd, another chair came hurtling with unexpected force and precision. It struck Buck's crude weapon squarely, splintering the legs and leaving him only the back and precariously wobbling seat.
He flung this at one of the advancing men and floored him. But another, slipping agilely in from the side, rushed at him with upraised knife. He was the 255 same greaser who, weeks before, had played that trick about the letter; and Buck's lips twitched grimly as he recognized him.
As the knife flashed downward, Stratton squirmed his body sidewise so that the blade merely grazed one shoulder. Grasping the slim wrist, he twisted it with brutal force, and the weapon clattered to the floor. An instant later he had gripped the fellow about the body and, exerting all his strength, hurled him across the table and straight through the near-by window.
The sound of a shrill scream and the crash of shattered glass came simultaneously. In the momentary, dead silence that followed, one could have almost heard a pin drop.
SHERIFF HARDENBERG INTERVENES
During that brief lull Buck found time to wonder why no one had sense enough to use a gun to bring them down. But almost as swiftly the answer came to him; they dared not risk the sound of a shot bringing interference from without. He flashed a glance at Bud, who sagged panting against the table, the fragments of a chair in his hands and a trickle of blood running down his face. Somehow the sight of that blood turned Buck into a raging savage.
"Come on, you damned coyotes!" he snarled. "Come and get yours."
For a brief space it looked as if no one had nerve enough to accept his challenge, and Buck shot a sudden appraising glance toward the outer door, between which and them their assailants crowded thickest. But before he could plan a way to rush the throng, that same sharp voice sounded from the rear which before had stirred the greasers into action, and six or seven of them began to creep warily forward. Their movements were plainly reluctant, however, and of a 257 sudden Stratton gave a spring which carried him within reaching distance of the two foremost. Gripping each by a collar, he cracked their heads together thrice in swift succession, hurled their limp bodies from him, grabbed another chair from the floor, and was back beside Jessup before any of their startled companions had time to stir.
"Now's the time to rush 'em, kid," he panted in Jessup's ear. "When I give the word—"
He broke off abruptly as the front door was flung suddenly open and a sharp, incisive, dominant voice rang through the room.
"What in hell 's doing here?"
For a fraction of a second the silence was intense. Then like a flash a man leaped up and flung himself through the window, while three others plunged out of the rear door and disappeared. Others were crowding after them when there came a sudden spurt of flame, the sharp sound of a pistol-shot, and a bullet buried itself in the casing of the rear door.
"Stand still, every damn' one of you," ordered the new-comer.
He strode down the room through the light powder-haze and paused before Stratton, tall, wide-shouldered, and lean of flank, with a thin, hawklike face and penetrating gray eyes.
"Well?" he questioned curtly. "What's it all about? That scoundrel been selling licker again?" 258
"Not to us," snapped Buck. "Are you Hardenberg?" he added, with sudden inspiration.
"I am."
"Well, you're the cause of our being in here."
The gray eyes studied him narrowly. "How come?"
"I came to town to see you specially and was told by a man outside that you were making a raid on this joint. We hadn't been inside three minutes before we found it was a plant to get us here and knife us."
"I don't get you," remarked the sheriff in a slightly puzzled tone.
By this time Buck's momentary irritation at the hint that it was all merely a drunken quarrel was dying away.
"I don't wonder," he returned in a more amiable tone. "It's a long story—too long to tell just now. I can only say that we were attacked without cause by the whole gang here, and if you hadn't shown up just now, it's a question whether we'd have gotten away alive."
The sheriff's glance swept over the disordered room, taking in the shattered window, the bodies on the floor, the Mexican who crouched moaning in a corner, and returned to Stratton's face.
"I'm not so sure about that last," he commented, with a momentary grim smile. "What's your name?"
"Buck Green." 259
"Oh! You wrote me a letter—"
"Sure. I'll explain about that later. Meanwhile—"
He broke off and, bending swiftly, pulled his Colt from under the table. Breaking the weapon, he ejected a little shower of empty brass shells, at the sight of which his lips tightened. Still without comment, he rapidly filled it from his belt, Hardenberg watching him intently the while.
"Meanwhile, you'd like a little action, eh?" drawled the sheriff. "You're right. Either of you hurt?"
He glanced inquiringly at Jessup, who was just wiping the blood from his cut face.
"Not me," snapped Bud. "This don't amount to nothin'. Say, was there a guy hangin' around outside when yuh came in—short, with black hair an' eyes set close together?"
Buck gave a slight start; the sheriff shook his head.
"I might have known he'd beat it," snorted Bud. "But I'll get the lyin' son-of-a-gun yet; it was him told us yuh were in here."
Hardenberg's gray eyes narrowed slightly. "That'll come later. We'll round up this bunch first. If you two will ride around to Main Street and get hold of half a dozen of my deputies, I'll stay here and hold this bunch."
Rapidly he mentioned the names of the men he wanted and where they could be found, and Stratton 260 and Jessup hastily departed. Outside they found three horses, their own, tied to the hitching-rack as they had left them, and a big, powerful black, who stood squarely facing the door, reins merely trailing and ears pricked forward. The two that had been there when they first rode up were gone.
"Just like I thought," said Jessup, as they mounted and swung around the corner. "That guy was planted there a-purpose to get us into the eatin'-house. What's more, I'll bet my saddle he was the same one who came snoopin' around Red Butte camp two weeks ago. Recollect, Gabby said he was small, with black hair an' eyes close together?"
Buck nodded. "It's a mighty sure thing he was there again last night and pulled our loads," he added in a tone of chagrin. "We're a pretty dumb pair, kid. Next time we'll believe Gabby when he says his door was opened in the night."
"I'll say so. But I thought the old bird was just fussing. Never even looked at my gun. But why the devil should we have suspected anythin'? Why, Lynch don't even know yore alive!"
"He must have found out someway," shrugged Stratton, "though I can't imagine how. No use shedding tears over it, though. What we've got to do is get Hardenberg moving double-quick. Here's George Harley; I'll take him, and you go on to the next one."
Rapidly the deputies were gathered together and 261 hurried back to the eating-house to find Hardenberg holding the Mexicans without difficulty. Half an hour later these were safely lodged in the jail, and the sheriff began a rigorous examination, which lasted until late in the afternoon.
The boldness of the affair angered him and made him determined to get at the bottom of it; but this proved no easy matter. To begin with, José Maria, the proprietor of the restaurant, was missing. Either he had merely rented his place to the instigator of the plot, and was prudently absenting himself for a while, or else he was one of those who had escaped through the rear door. Most of the Mexicans were natives of Perilla, and one and all swore that they were as innocent of evil intent as unborn children. They had merely happened to be there getting a meal when the fracas started. The miscreants who had drawn knives on the two whites were quite unknown to them, and must be the ones who had escaped.
Hardenberg knew perfectly well that they were lying, but for the moment he let it pass. He had an idea that Stratton could throw some light on the situation, and leaving the prisoners to digest a few pithy truths, he took the cow-puncher into his private room to hear his story.
Though Buck tried to make this as brief as possible, it took some time, especially as the sheriff showed an absorbing interest from the start and persisted in 262 asking frequent questions and requesting fuller details. When he had finally heard everything, he leaned back in his chair, regarding Stratton thoughtfully.
"Mighty interesting dope," he remarked, lighting a cigarette. "I've had my eyes on Tex Lynch for some time, but I had no idea he was up to anything like this. You're dead sure about that oil?"
Buck nodded. "Of course, you can't ever be certain about the quantity until you bore, but I went over some of the Oklahoma fields a few years ago, and this sure looks like something big."
"Pretty soft for the lady," commented Hardenberg. He paused, regarding Stratton curiously. "Just whereabouts do you come off?" he asked frankly. "I've been wondering about that all along, and you can see I've got to be dead sure of my facts before I get busy on this seriously."
Though Buck had been expecting the question, he hesitated for an instant before replying.
"I'll tell you," he replied slowly at length, "but for the present I'd like to have you keep it under your hat. My name isn't Green at all, but—Stratton."
"Stratton?" repeated the sheriff in a puzzled tone. "Stratton?" A sudden look of incredulity flashed into his eyes. "You're not trying to make out that you're the Buck Stratton who owned the Shoe-Bar?"
Buck flushed a little. "I was afraid you'd find it hard to swallow, but it's true," he said quietly. "You 263 see, the papers got it wrong. I wasn't killed at all, but only wounded in the head. For—for over a year I hadn't any memory."
Briefly he narrated the circumstances of the unusual case, and Hardenberg listened with absorbed attention, watching him closely, weighing every word, and noting critically the most trifling gesture or change of expression. For a while his natural skepticism struggled with a growing conviction that the man before him was telling the truth. It was an extraordinary experience, to be sure, but he quickly realized that Stratton had nothing to gain by a deliberate imposture.
"You can prove all that, of course?" he asked when Buck had finished.
"Of course. I haven't any close relatives, but there are plenty of men who'll swear to my identity."
The sheriff sat silent for a moment. "Some experience," he mused presently. "Rotten hard luck, too, I'll say. Of course you never had a suspicion of oil when you sold the outfit to old man Thorne."
Again Buck hesitated. Somehow he found this part of the affair extraordinarily hard to put into words. But he knew that it must be done.
"I didn't sell it," he said curtly at length. "That transfer of Thorne's was a forgery. He was a man I'd had a number of business dealings with, and when I went to France I left all my papers in his charge. 264 I suppose when he saw my name on the list of missing, he thought he could take a chance. But his daughter knew nothing whatever about it. She's white all through and thinks the ranch is honestly hers. That's the reason why I want you to keep quiet about this for a while. You can see how she'd feel if this came out."
A faint, fleeting smile curved the corners of Jim Hardenberg's straight mouth. Accustomed by his profession to think the worst of people, and to probe deeply and callously for hidden evil motives, it amused and rather pleased him to meet a man whose extraordinary story roused not the faintest doubt in his critical mind.
"Some dirty business," he commented at length. "Still, it's come out all right, and at that you're ahead of the game. That oil might have laid there for years without your getting wise to it. Well, let's get down to cases. It's going to take some planning to get that scoundrel Lynch, to say nothing of the men higher up. Tell me about those fellows in the car again."
Buck readily went over that part of his story, describing the fat man and his driver as accurately as he was able. The sheriff's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he listened.
"Think you know him?" Buck asked curiously.
"I'm not sure. Description sounds a bit familiar, 265 but descriptions are apt to fool you. I wish you'd managed to get the number of the car."
"That would likely be a fake one," Stratton reminded him.
"Maybe. Well, I'll make a few inquiries." He stood up stretching. "I'd like mighty well to start for the Shoe-Bar to-night, but I'm afraid I can't get a posse together soon enough. We'll need some bunch to round up that gang. You'll be at the United States Hotel, I suppose? Well, I'll get busy now, and after supper I'll drop around to let you know how things are going. With what you've told me I'll see if I can't squeeze some information out of those greasers. It may help."
They left the room together, the sheriff pausing outside to give some instructions to his assistant. Buck gathered in Jessup, who had been waiting, and the two left the building and walked toward the hotel, where they had left their horses.
Perilla was a town of some size, and at this hour the main street was fairly well crowded with a picturesque throng of cowboys, Mexicans, and Indians from the near-by reservation, with the usual mingling of more prosaic-looking business men. Not a few motor-cars mingled with horsemen and wagons of various sorts in the roadway, but as Buck's glance fell on a big, shiny, black touring-car standing at the curb, he was struck by a sudden feeling of familiarity. 266
Mechanically he noted the license-number. Then his eyes narrowed as he saw the pudgy, heavily-built figure in the tan dust-coat on the point of descending from the tonneau.
An instant later they were face to face. For a second the fat man glanced at him indifferently with that same pouting droop to the small lips which Stratton knew he never could forget. Then, like a flash, the round eyes widened and filled with horror, the jaw dropped, the fat face turned to a pale, sickly green. A choking gurgle burst from the man's lips, and he seemed on the point of collapse when a hand reached out and dragged him back into the car, which, at a hasty word from the occupant of the back seat, shot from the curb and hummed rapidly away.
Thinking to stop them by shooting up the tires. Buck's hand dropped instinctively to his gun. But he realized in time that such drastic methods were neither expedient nor necessary. Instead, he turned and halted a man of about forty who was passing.
"Any idea who that fellow is?" he asked, motioning toward the car, just whirling around the next corner. "He's short and fat, in a big black Hammond car."
"Short and fat in a Hammond car?" repeated the man, staring down the street. "Hum! Must be Paul Draper from Amarillo. He's the only one I know 267 around these parts who owns a Hammond. Come to think, though, his car is gray."
"He's probably had it painted lately," suggested Stratton quietly. "Much obliged. I thought I'd seen him before some place."


Trekking is unlike any other type of travelling because it lets you go up unchartered paths and you get the feeling of conquering yourself as you reach the end. While treading unchartered ways gives you a thrill unlike anything else, it can still be dangerous to do so without having backup. Rather than taking chances with yourself, it is better to get trekking insurance cover through Trekking Travel Insurance and travel worry free into the mountains without looking back!
Think about it. You have been walking for an hour or so, moving past branches, watching your step as you pass little streams of clear water with sweat on your brow, and finally you are reaching the end of your trek. You start seeing other mountain tops, the melting horizon and the dash of colors across the sky as you take a breath of awe and relief.
Trekking can really be a life-changing experience for many. However, as many trekking sites are not monitored completely, you are more at risk from falling, losing your gear, or suffering an injury. But don't let that stop you from having an adventure in life, just keep these important safety tips in mind before venturing out in the unknown.
While packing for a trek, you might feel like taking along all your gear just in case, but only carry all your gear uphill if you are planning to camp there. Otherwise, some water, food, flashlight, and first-aid set will set you up nicely.
Many trekking destinations do not have network connectivity, so try saving maps offline, or carry some notes along if you will require looking up the path.
While it's great to travel solo, it might be safer to have someone watch your back. In case you are still on a solo trip, try joining along with groups of people that are going the same way.
Trekking involves treading through rocks, shrubs, trees and you might also have to climb a bit on the way. Doing so can make you vulnerable to scratches or cuts, so it is ideal to properly cover yourself on the way.
Ever trek has a trail that has been set by people walking through the place for years. Trails serve a purpose: to help you reach safely and keep you away from any animals.
Know how to protect yourself from Animals, Just in Case!
If you venture into wildlife, you are prone to enter an animal's territory without having a knowledge about it. Read up about the animals that you may encounter in the area and the how to safely evade them. For instance, if you see a snake, don't make quick movements and they will peacefully on their way.
While you have Google Maps to help you in the cities, it is a healthy practice to keep track of the direction when you trek.
Many mountainous regions and forests create their own weather where it can suddenly rain or get windy. Always carry a waterproof windcheater, they are light and can come in handy.
It might seem generic, but you cannot stress enough on the importance of checking the weather, trail, and all the information about the area you are venturing into for the first time.
You get into an accident (protection against injuries, cancelled hotel bookings, trip cancellation, as well as loss of baggage for an amount up to INR 3,00,000).
You can truly feel unhinged when you travel with a insurance to protect you from any unforeseen trouble in your travels.


text:
Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - League C) Islands 3:1 LFCIAHK
2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017 2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 2012-2013 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 2007-2008 2006-2007 2005-2006 -- Jump to groups -- BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League Sapling Cup Sapling Cup Group A Sapling Cup Group B FA Cup Senior Shield AFC Cup 2022 1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division AFC Champions League 2022 Hong Kong Premier Youth League U14 Hong Kong Premier Youth League U16 Hong Kong Premier Youth League U18 Jockey Club Women's Football League (1st Division) Jockey Club Women's Football League (2nd Division) AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group D) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group E) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group F) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group G) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - Group H) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - Group A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - Group B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - Group C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - Group D) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - Group E) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - Group F) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group D) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group E) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group F) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - Group G) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - Group A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - Group B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - Group C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - Group D) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - Group E) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - Group F) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - Group A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - Group B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - Group C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - Group D) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - Group E) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - Group F) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - League A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - League B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - League C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U13 - League D) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - League A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - League B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U14 - League C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - League A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - League B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U15 - League C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - League A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - League B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U16 - League C) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - League A) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - League B) Jockey Club Youth Football League (U18 - League C) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 1 Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group A) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group B) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group C) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group D) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group E) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group F) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group G) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2 (Group H) Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2A Jockey Club Futsal League - Division 2B Jockey Club Women's Youth Football League (U18) Jockey Club Women's Youth Football League (U15) Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup (Group A) Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup (Group B) Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup (Group C) Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup (Group D) Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup (Group E) Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup (Group F) 2nd Division Play-off (Group A) 2nd Division Play-off (Group B)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


What are a few easy ways you can increase your weight loss with low-carb diet?
What are beautiful ways to present the turkey on Thanksgiving?
What are some ways to lose fat?
What are some effective ways to fast or lose unwanted weight naturally?


text:
Raya is an online dating app known for its exclusiveness to its members
According to the App Store, once you're admitted to Raya, a membership is $9.99 per month. But users can pay more for extra in-app purchases, such as extra likes.
Other Features of Raya
Included in the membership, I can enjoy looking for a potential partner everywhere. It is because the app shows that every member of the app, even from other countries. I do not have a hard time looking for a member who can catch my attention because there are many options.
Discover How to Use the Raya App
But, members can just turn on the "Nearby" feature if they wanted just to see the profiles of members within or close to their current location. Thus, the app asks the members to grant permission to allow the app to use the current location of their mobile devices.
A relatively new feature of the app is the modes. Raya is now limited to finding potential partners romantically but also professionally. Members can now build connections by finding other app members who are in the same field or industry.
When looking for potential dates, I can just turn on "Social" mode, while the "Work" mode shows me people who can be added to my professional social network.
Other Facts about Raya
Since the app has gained popularity over time, Raya has an interesting demographic among its users. At present, the members are generally young, with an almost equal distribution of male and female in terms of gender.
As mentioned, there are reports that single celebrities are on the app. You can find here Demi Lovato, Channing Tatum, Ben Affleck, Tom Felton, Emma Watson, and many more. So, there is a chance you can match with them.
The app has a rigorous application process because a committee verifies the information of the new user based on the Instagram profile and referral of a current member. (more…)


text:
package net.ontopia.topicmaps.nav2.taglibs.value;

import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Collection;
import javax.servlet.jsp.tagext.TagSupport;

import net.ontopia.topicmaps.nav2.core.ValueAcceptingTagIF;

/**
 * INTERNAL: Value Producing Tag for computing
 * the set difference of two collections.
 */
public class DifferenceTag extends TagSupport implements ValueAcceptingTagIF {

  // members
  private Collection resultCollection;

  /**
   * Process the start tag for this instance.
   */
  @Override
  public int doStartTag() {
    // evaluate body
    return EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE;
  }

  /**
   * Process the end tag.
   */
  @Override
  public int doEndTag() {
    // retrieve parent tag which accepts the produced collection by this tag
    ValueAcceptingTagIF acceptingTag = (ValueAcceptingTagIF)
      findAncestorWithClass(this, ValueAcceptingTagIF.class);

    // kick it over to the accepting tag
    acceptingTag.accept( resultCollection );

    // reset member collection
    resultCollection = null;

    return EVAL_PAGE;
  }

  /**
   * reset the state of the Tag.
   */
  @Override
  public void release() {
    // overwrite default behaviour
    // do not set parent to null!!!
  }

  // -----------------------------------------------------------------
  // Implementation of ValueAcceptingTagIF
  // -----------------------------------------------------------------

  @Override
  public void accept(Collection inputCollection) {
    if (resultCollection == null) {
      // setup first collection
      resultCollection = new HashSet(inputCollection);
    } else {
      // calculate difference between first and second collection
      resultCollection.removeAll(inputCollection);
    }
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


What is it about driving and flying, that makes people seek out open roads and take to the skies? The speed? The sense of freedom? Well, that's what 16 people were going to find out, on the Bengaluru edition of the AMG Emotion Tour.
We could tell that they were itching to find out, going by the rate at which the convoy made it from the AMG Performance Centre, Sundaram Motors, to the Jakkur Aerodrome, en route to the Bengaluru International Airport. In hindsight, it could've had something to do with the excitement of being let loose in some of the most practical high-performance cars there are. These AMGs stand out in the world of sub 5s 0-100kmph capable machines – from the compact GLA45, to the super sedans C 63 S and E 63 S, to the obviously go-anywhere SUVs like the GLE 43 Coupe and G 63, these are vehicles that don't need to babied over the Bangalore PWD's proudest failures. On this exclusive drive experience, some of the people were AMG owners and they already knew this. The other lucky few were about to find this out for themselves. This exclusive experience would be an emotional tour like no other!
The Jakkur Aerodrome is a proud part of Bengaluru's history, built under the patronage of the Maharaja of Mysore in 1948. From a government flying school that ran through the better part of the last century to hosting flying clubs, and adrenaline junkies (the annual drag races were held here), the Jakkur airport has come a long way. Now, activities like parasailing and microlight rides are what keeps the airport busy. And nice and early on a Monday morning, the Jakkur Aerodrome played host to the AMG Emotion Tour.
With the high-horsepower pack being led by the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster, everyone at the airport found reasons to abandon their high-fliers momentarily. What followed was a symphony of power, the likes of which likely hasn't been seen at Jakkur before, drag races included. From burly four-litre bi-turbo V8s to raucous bi-turbo V6s to raspy turbo inline four engines, all have the distinction of the AMG soundtrack, with pops and crackles signing off power outputs, from 367PS all the way up to 612PS.
The participants (just a little reluctantly) swapped four wheels, for two wings. The reluctance didn't last long, however. After all, it was a once in a lifetime chance to view Bengaluru as they never had before – from 1,000 feet above it! Microlights have a flight ceiling approaching 6,000 to 8,000 feet but the pilot/instructor wanted people to get the adrenaline rush that comes with flying low to the ground. In fact, the controls were handed right over to the participants! And with the elevated road to the airport obstructing the landing approach for planes, the real adventure is in landing. We caught up with Sumanth Donthi, prospective AMG customer after a smoothly successful landing, "Flying myself was an amazing rush! Especially since you feel everything in this small microlight compared to the commercial flights. But I still can't wait to get back behind the wheel of the AMG and hit the road!" Well, it seems like some itches are harder to scratch, and the need for speed can be a stubborn muse.
Luckily for us, we had a 275km journey ahead, down NH75 to feed that need. After a brief bout of traffic getting out of Yeshwanthpur and the city, the convoy finally had a chance to stretch its legs. And going by the smiles on the faces behind the wheels, the AMG magic was at work. Our destination – the Taj in Madikeri, Coorg. Our route – some of the most picturesque roads you can travel in Karnataka. One caveat – speed breakers! Despite that, the convoy made it through peacefully, further driving home the sheer usability of an AMG. The SUVs were especially quick on these real world roads, with the ability to soak up most of what would've slowed down other performance cars.
And when we reached Madikeri, the cars had another test in store. The regular road to the resort passes through some narrow uphill sections, is motorable, but had been washed away by excessive rainfall. So we had to take the road less travelled, a broken piece of tarmac to be navigated without the added security of the light of day. But, thanks for Multibeam LED lighting! The adaptive headlights were especially useful when a thick cloud of fog rolled in and cut visibility to just a few feet ahead.
For the return journey, and after having stocked up on freshly ground coffee, we decided to revel in experience of an AMG. And the road we came up with, seemed engineered for bringing out the best (fun) of the AMGs. Flawless tarmac, flowing corners and green scenery to boot. We don't think many cars drove without their windows down, to best enjoy the sounds of Affalterbach's finest. Needless to say, the 270km or so journey back, shrunk to a fraction of its length. And at the end of the day, the smiles on everyone's faces as they stepped out of the AMG steed of their choice said it all, truly bringing home the point of the AMG Emotion Tour.


text:
New play with music
Re-imagines history
Familiar characters
90 minutes with no intermission
To purchase tickets visit telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200
Jackie & Marilyn
By Sheri Graubert; Directed by Sanja Bestic
Produced by ESPO Entertainment
Off Broadway, New Play With Music
Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street
by Seth Bogner on 4.21.14
Aaron Mathias and Lella Satie in Jackie & Marilyn.
BOTTOM LINE: This campy new play seems confused about what it is and isn't offering.
Let's accentuate the positive, the costumes are fabulous. I'm assuming that given how impeccably they fit both Lorraine Farris and Lella Satie, the two lithe actresses playing Jackie and Marilyn respectively, that they had to have been built for the production. If they were in fact purchased off the rack then I would like costume designer Aleksandra Stojic Zurovac to be my personal shopper. The looks she chose for these two fashion icons could have been ripped off their Madam Tussaud's sculptures, yet they still feel like interpretations of the actual pieces worn by them. With roughly four costume changes each, I began to look forward to what would come next, and each delivered the vintage inspired, body conscious, expensive looking promise of the last. The same could be said of the set design by Yonatan Gonzalez and assistant John Valde, with sleek 1950s-leaning furnishings and warped portraits of the three characters in this notorious presidential love triangle. However, after watching Aaron Mathias (as JFK) trip while attempting to make a dramatic cross, or cringing as poor Marilyn crouched during her entrance as to avoid banging her head, it became obvious that though the set looked good, it was not doing the players any favors.
In fact, there isn't much here that is, most noticeably the fussy and unnatural direction by Sanja Bestic that makes this new play by Sheri Graubert come across as a marriage between a reenactment on Dateline, an episode of Desperate Housewives, and a drag show. I cannot imagine that Jackie Kennedy ever hit JFK with a throw pillow even once during her time as First Lady let alone three or four, or that she would've humped a chair in a fantasy horse/husband riding sequence that made the entire audience want to stand and scream, "just cum already!" This sort of camp fairs slightly better with Marilyn, given the addictions and possible psychosis, and she is not spared even for a moment. Ms. Satie gyrates and twitches her way through lip-syncs (yes, for her life), sex montages, and an on-stage bare-breasted costume change. This is not to say that Jackie & Marilyn is a successful play and would have been better served by another director. If you cut out the previously mentioned lip-syncs and tedious musical montages you are left with roughly thirty minutes of dialogue that could be condensed to fifteen.
I wish I could say that the actors rose above all this, but despite each of the three having moments of clarity amidst the fog, Farris's stint as a White House tour guide, Mathias's spot-on dialect, and Satie's "Marilyn is wasted and obsessed" soliloquy, what stands out most about the performances is a lack of preparation. It too often seems as though they are making-up their lines on the spot, stumbling over each other, and taking pauses so long as to illicit uncomfortable giggles from the audience. In fact, this production would fair far better if it simply threw its hands in the air and submitted, allowing us to laugh at all its ridiculousness. Given how many cooks there are in this kitchen (seriously, there are four assistant stage managers, two video designers without any videos, a dialect coach, and a choreographer), you'd think that someone would have spoken up during rehearsal and informed all involved that what they were ultimately creating was a comedy. By serving us camp and pretending that it's historical drama they force us to roll our eyes when what we'd rather do is laugh along.
(Jackie & Marilyn plays at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, through May 3, 2014. Performances are Tuesdays at 7PM; Wednesdays at 3PM and 8PM; Thursdays and Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM and 8PM; and Sundays at 3PM. Tickets are $66.25 and are available at telecharge.com or by calling 212.239.6200.)


text:
Lalsakharovita-Zn és un mineral de la classe dels silicats, que pertany al supergrup de la labuntsovita. Rep el seu nom d'Aleksey S. Sakharov (1910-1996), geòleg rus que va treballar al massís de Lovozero.

Característiques
L'alsakharovita-Zn és un ciclosilicat de fórmula química NaSrKZn(Ti,Nb)₄(Si₄O₁₂)₂(O,OH)₄·7H₂O. Va ser aprovada com a espècie vàlida per l'Associació Mineralògica Internacional l'any 2002. Cristal·litza en el sistema monoclínic. La seva duresa a l'escala de Mohs és 5.

Segons la classificació de Nickel-Strunz, l'alsakharovita-Zn pertany a "09.CE - Ciclosilicats amb enllaços senzills de 4 [Si₄O₁₂]8- (vierer-Einfachringe), sense anions complexos aïllats" juntament amb els següents minerals: papagoïta, verplanckita, baotita, nagashimalita, taramel·lita, titantaramel·lita, barioortojoaquinita, byelorussita-(Ce), joaquinita-(Ce), ortojoaquinita-(Ce), estronciojoaquinita, estroncioortojoaquinita, ortojoaquinita-(La), labuntsovita-Mn, nenadkevichita, lemmleinita-K, korobitsynita, kuzmenkoïta-Mn, vuoriyarvita-K, tsepinita-Na, karupmøllerita-Ca, labuntsovita-Mg, labuntsovita-Fe, lemmleinita-Ba, gjerdingenita-Fe, neskevaaraïta-Fe, tsepinita-K, paratsepinita-Ba, tsepinita-Ca, gjerdingenita-Mn, lepkhenelmita-Zn, tsepinita-Sr, paratsepinita-Na, paralabuntsovita-Mg, gjerdingenita-Ca, gjerdingenita-Na, gutkovaïta-Mn, kuzmenkoïta-Zn, organovaïta-Mn, organovaïta-Zn, parakuzmenkoïta-Fe, burovaïta-Ca, komarovita i natrokomarovita.

Formació i jaciments
Va ser descoberta l'any 2002 al mont Lepkhe-Nel'm, al massís de Lovozero (Província de Múrmansk, Rússia), l'únic indret on ha estat trobada.

Referències

Ciclosilicats
Minerals d'estronci
Minerals de niobi
Minerals de potassi
Minerals de sodi
Minerals de titani
Minerals de zinc
Minerals descoberts al mont Lepkhe-Nel'm
Minerals heptahidrats

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text:
Investigators searching for person who shot a bald eagle in Washington State
The bird was found with what appears to be buckshot in its right wing and had to be euthanized.
Teacher had sexual relationship with several students and gave them alcohol, sheriff says
35-year-old Heather Kishun was arrested at her home.
Updated: 36 minutes ago
Flights stopped at Chicago O'Hare airport amid winter storm
More than 600 flights were canceled as the FAA halted all flights in and out of the airport, one of the nation's busiest.
Trump administration proposes rollback of Michelle Obama school lunch guidelines
Announced on the former first lady's birthday, child nutrition advocates say the change will result in fewer fruits and vegetables and more fries and pizza.
11-year-old girl rescued after being kidnapped on her way home from school
Police say a man forced her into a car after she got off a school bus.
CDC warns flu vaccine does not match the virus hitting children especially hard
The flu season also started early, so a lot of people didn't get the flu shot in time.
Bad Boys 4, National Treasure 3 both in works, reports say
The third film in the series, 'Bad Boys for Life' just released, while the last 'National Treasure' movie came out in 2007.
'Born out of wedlock' policy used to deny 1-year-old citizenship because her parents are gay
Both her legal parents are U.S. citizens, but she is considered an immigrant. Now, they're suing the Federal government for LGBTQ discrimination.
Supreme Court could rule on 'faithless electors' before 2020 election
The justices' decision could potentially play a role in picking the next president.
NATIONAL-POLITICS
A weekend storm that originated in the West earlier this week is heading east.
Was the volcanic eruption in the Philippines large enough to influence the climate?
During the height of the eruption, a large plume of searing hot volcanic ash blossomed approximately 50,000 feet into the atmosphere.


When pipes freeze in extreme winter weather and then thaw out as temperatures rise, these pipes tend to crack and burst, causing leaking and flooding. A frozen pipe bursting can cause a lot of water damage in your home.
A home in Cleveland without a working furnace, even for a couple of hours can cause serious risks. Recently SERVPRO of Gateway was called out to a home that was for sale in the area to mitigate a water damage. Upon entering the home, the technicians discovered several feet of standing water in the basement. Moisture from the basement caused extensive damage to the upper floors. Most of the materials including walls, ceilings, floors, and cabinets removed due to the water damage.
Prevent frozen pipes from damaging your home by keeping your home's thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you will be out of the home for a lengthy period, consider shutting off and draining your water system.
SERVPRO of Gateway Professionals have the experience, expertise, and the resources to remediate damage caused by winter weather.
If you have water damage due to bad weather, Call SERVPRO of Gateway 216-575-1985.


We also sell and install ceramic tile for floors, walls, kitchen backsplashes, and entire bathrooms, including walk-in showers.
When we decided to remodel our master bedroom & bath we went to Dungey's Furniture and Flooring for the carpet & ceramic tile. We had ideas in mind of what we wanted for color and design, and the staff was very helpful in finding selections to meet our 'wants'. They have a large selection for both ceramic tile and carpet to choose from. They also recommended a qualified person to install the tile and carpet, and we are very pleased with his meticulous work.
We also installed glass tile backsplash above the wet bar in our four season room. The staff at Dungey's was able to show us what was available for this project also.
Everyone at Dungey's was professional and helpful during the remodeling process. We are very pleased with the final results!


Various probiotic bacteria play important roles in the production of yogurt. Most often species of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus are the microbes found in various types of yogurt. Specific types of yogurt, such as Greek and Belgian, are distinguished by the species of bacteria used to culture animal sourced milk into yogurt. When in animal sourced milk, the bacteria can use up lactose present for energy which produces a byproduct of lactic acid. Lactic acid builds up in the milk causing the coagulation of milk proteins, this transforms the milk into a semi-solid mass with a drastic change in taste.
Lactic acid fermentation does not happen quite the same in dairy free/vegan yogurt. There is no lactose in plant sourced milks. Instead bacteria utilize other sugars and proteins for metabolism and reproduction. The bacteria still produce some acid in dairy free milk, so the flavor is slightly tart. However, plant based milks do not have the same proteins that coagulate in the presence of acid as in animal sourced milk. So a thickener must be used to create dairy-free yogurts. Our favorite thickener to use when making dairy free yogurt is Agar agar. Agar is vegan and it is made from a type of sea vegetable.
What is the best plant based milk to use for vegan yogurt?
There are many plant sourced milks on the market, but from our findings, yogurt microbes prefer a few types more than others. The plant sourced milks that have worked the best for us with vegan starter cultures are soy milk, Cashew milk and oat milk. For this recipe and in these photos we used a mix of hemp milk and oat milk, and it's by far the best vegan yogurt we've made! Another favorite combo is oat milk and soy milk. Feel free to use or blend any plant based milks to your liking for this recipe though. All plant based milks will work.
When culturing your milk into yogurt you have two options: Use a starter culture, or use already made vegan yogurt. We like the second option, because already made dairy-free yogurt is easily accessible from health food markets and at Whole Foods. If you prefer to use a starter culture you can order a high quality Vegan Starter Culture online like this one. You'll also need a yogurt maker, and we suggest this one.
2 Tablespoons of already made vegan yogurt, or a packet of starter culture.
Gently set your room temperature jar of milk into a pot and add water around the jar until the jar is halfway submerged. *Do not put a lid on the jar.
Place a thermometer into the jar of milk and bring the water to a light simmer, continuously stirring the milk.
Once the milk reaches a temperature of 82 degrees Celsius (180 F), thoroughly stir in the Agar. Use 2 teaspoons for a semi-thick yogurt, and use 3 teaspoons for a thicker yogurt. Continuously stir the milk and agar at 82 degrees for about 3 minutes.
Keeping the thermometer in the milk, remove the jar of milk from the hot water. Let it cool to about 44 degrees Celsius (about 110 F) stirring the milk occasionally.
Once your milk is cooled, you can add your starter culture or already made yogurt. It is best to dissolve dried cultures in a small amount of the cooled milk, then add it to the quart sized jar and stir. Dissolving the starter in a small amount of milk helps to prevent clumping and distributes the culture evenly throughout the milk. If you are using already prepared yogurt with live active cultures, just take a spoon full of that and stir it into the cooled milk.
Once your milk is inoculated with probiotic microbes you are ready to incubate! Dispense the milk mixture into the clean jars for your yogurt maker. Be sure the lids are off, turn it on and let it incubate for 12-24 hours. If you prefer a more tart yogurt, let it incubate closer to 24 hours.
When your yogurt is done incubating, put lids on and place in the refrigerator. Once cooled, flavor however you'd like and enjoy! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for yummy upcoming recipes using vegan yogurt!
What can I make with Vegan yogurt?


text:
Russia turns its sights on BP
Stephen Beard Dec 22, 2006
https://www.marketplace.org/2006/12/22/russia-turns-its-sights-bp/
TEXT OF STORY
MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Speaking of energy, Russian President Putin is tightening his grip on the country's energy resources. Yesterday following months of pressure, Shell Oil finally gave up. It agreed to sell its controlling stake in a major oil and gas project to the Kremlin-backed company Gazprom. Now the Kremlin is turning up the heat on BP. From London, Stephen Beard has more.
STEPHEN BEARD: A key Kremlin official has given BP a stark warning: Accede to our wishes or face big trouble.
The issue is a giant natural gas field in eastern Siberia. After investing $8 billion in a Russian energy company TNK , BP is developing the field and needs to build a pipeline to pump the gas to China. But the Kremlin controlled Gazprom is withholding permission.
A top Kremlin official now says BP must reach agreement with Gazprom or else. There's no doubt, says analyst Mike Ritchie, that the Kremlin wants Gazprom to buy a controlling stake in the BP-TNK joint venture.
MIKE RITCHIE: What the Russians are looking for is 50% + 1 share. That's a controlling stake in Russia and that is, the Russians have made it very clear over the last two or three years that that's what they're going to be looking for. So TNK-BP the writings on the wall for them.
Ritchie says that after Shell caved in to Kremlin pressure, it is almost certain that BP will do likewise.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
Oil profits drop as companies feel pandemic, carbon pressure
Russia mulls state assets sale
Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline complicates Russia-Ukraine tensions
U.K. and Russia at odds over spy poisoning
BP's CEO outlines the issues surrounding the oil and gas industry
Church of England crusades against climate change


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Some delicious meals have come out of our outdoor kitchen which is fairly typical of kitchens in remote and/or isolated areas. These are usually small buildings with a thatch roof and sides of plastic-sheeting.
For cooking in these kitchens, sand is piled in a box-like platform that is built to a comfortable level. On top of the sand are cinder blocks, two or four or more depending on how large a cooking surface you want. On top of the block, pieces of metal are laid to form a kind of grill on which the pot(s) sits...usually just one pot at a time. On the sand and between the cinder blocks and under the 'grill' is an open fire. Voila...a stove. Some of the best bread I've tasted was cooked on a stove just like this.
In the old kitchen the view was great but the cooking and cleaning were time consuming and at an awkward distance from living quarters - for hauling wood and water - especially when it rained.
In the new kitchen the open fire is contained in a charcoal/woodburning 'cooker' that was made to order in Bluefields. This new stove sits in a breezeway in the house right near the kitchen and the kitchen sink: all under roof. Cooking on this stove is simpler...and it holds multiple pots!
Later we'll have a propane stove but for now keeping a full tank is not on the to-do list.
Here is the original kitchen, built on the site of an early camping trip where we hung hammocks in the trees.
Here is the new kitchen. Opening on a breezeway of the new house, it has a large window to the south.


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Drexel's Co-op Theatre Company Partners With Ignition Arts to Present World Premier of the Musical 'ALiEN8'
Drexel University's Co-Op Theatre Company, as part of the it's Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) and in partnership with Ignition Arts, presents the world premiere of the musical ALiEN8, written by David Lee White with music and lyrics by Kate Brennan. ALiEN8 runs November 14-24, 2019 in the Mandell Theater. Tickets are on sale now at www.drexelperformingarts.com.
This world premiere musical tells the story of a fictional small Missouri town that is radically redefined by a natural disaster, a dark secret from its past, and the arrival of a mysterious stranger known only as "Eight." Through music, dance and drama the audience experiences a story of change, forgiveness and inclusion as a wounded town and its residents attempt to heal their fractured soul.
ALiEN8 explores the concepts of healing and human connection through different forms of communication. The character Eight communicates in a series of intricate movements, choreographed by Dr. Miriam Giguere, head of the Drexel Department of Performing Arts. According to the production's Director, Nick Anselmo: "One of the unspoken aspects of the show is the importance of simple human connection. The young people learn to communicate again after tragedy strikes through a non-verbal, gestural language." This musical celebrates young people's inclination to accept and understand what is different and unexpected.
Young people are at the heart and the creation of this piece. This musical emerged as a project with the McCarter Theater Center's Education program. In a three-week high school summer intensive, Brennan and White worked with twenty-two New Jersey high school students to create a 75-minute version of ALiEN8. Armed initially with a handful of songs and rough sketches of scenes, the musical was fully fleshed out through improvisation and student input. After the McCarter workshop, Brennan and White continued to expand the script and write new music, resulting in a two-act version for eight adult and eight student actors. Ignition Arts gave a week-long workshop of this version through their Winter Residency at the Oklahoma City Contemporary Museum of Arts. They are thrilled to now bring a full production to life at Drexel. This production at Drexel is made possible through the Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) with funding from the Samuel P. Mandell Foundation.
For more information about ALiEN8, please visit the production's page here. Tickets can be purchased here.
About Mandell Professionals in Residence Project
The Mandell Professionals in Residence Project (MPiRP) is an Antoinette Westphal College Department of Performing Art's collaborative program bringing theatre and dance professionals on to the Drexel campus for performances, production and instruction. Drexel students are given opportunities to work hands on with professional artists to produce high quality productions. Members of the Drexel University community are enriched by the high quality of dance and theatrical productions being offered through MPiRP in the Mandell Theater. Philadelphia is fast becoming one of the most important places in the country for innovative and exciting theater and dance, and MPiRP provides valuable space for some of these up and coming performing arts organizations and artists. For more information, visit http://drexel.edu/performingarts/partnerships/mandell-professionals-in-residence-project/.
About Ignition Arts
Ignition Arts is in its 18th year as a nonprofit arts organization. We INCUBATE new works in the form of plays and musicals, we INVESTIGATE the world through podcasting and we IGNITE personal and ensemble growth through our methodology Brennan Check-In. We actively engage with our communities, cultivate necessary new work and foster collaboration across all genres of art and change-making. Whether it's a play-reading, a podcast or personal transformation, Ignition Arts is the place to start something. ignitionarts.org.
About Drexel University's Department of Performing Arts
The Drexel University Department of Performing Arts is a dedicated community of artists, faculty and staff committed to providing a quality education in dance, music, and theater. The Department looks to expand students' knowledge and skills through academic course work, rigorous technical training, experiences with professional artists, innovative community outreach, and outstanding performance opportunities. The Department of Performing Arts is home to the dance, music and theatre programs at Drexel, including a dance major and eight minors. It is also home to over 20 performing ensembles including the Drexel Co-Op Theatre Company. For more information, visit http://drexel.edu/performingarts.
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
Kate Brennan
BOOK BY
David Lee White
Nick Anselmo
CHOREOGRAPHY BY
Miriam Giguere
MUSICAL DIRECTION AND ORCHESTRATIONS BY
Michael Kiley
Max Gallagher, 8
Maddy Larkin, Anna
Caroline Juelke, Hayley
Caitlin Flores, Alex
Emma Contreras, Emily
William Kraft, Ethan
Charlie Gormley, Zach
Gary Bowman Jr., Mr. Brasfield
Wren Francis, Ms. Tanner
Alexa Fontecha, Ms. Foster
Scott Langdon*, Pastor Warren
Annette Kaplafka, Janet
Eric Mills, Ray
Partick Henderson, Coach Webber
Greg Drapkin, Chief
Abby Dupes, Sanders
Diana Lambert, Suzanne
Alex Bowe, Walter
Mary Kate Melnyk, Clara
Joey Teti, Ben
*Denotes that the actor is a member of Actors' Equity Association
Josh Goldhaber, Conductor/Keyboard
Ian Gaskin, Bass
Mitchell Rothstein, Drums
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN TEAM
Sydny Hansen, Stage Manager
Shawn McGovern, Lighting Designer
Chris Sannino, Sound Designer
Katherine Fritz, Costume Designer
Colin McIlvaine, Scenic Designer
Thursday, November 14 @ 8 pm (preview)
Friday, November 15 @ 8 pm (opening)
Saturday, November 16 @ 8 pm
Sunday, November 17 @ 2 pm
Thursday, November 21 @ 8 pm
Friday, November 22 @ 8 pm
Sunday, November 24 @ 2 pm (Closing)
Drexel University's Mandell Theater
Drexel ID $10
Non-Drexel Student $15
General Admission $25
Tickets can be purchased at drexelperformingarts.com or in person at the box office one hour prior to performance time.
Jessica Doheny, Co-Op Theatre Company Managing Director
cooptheatre@drexel.edu


THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is sorely disappointed at the Court of Appeals' affirmation of the bail granted to Sajid Ampatuan, one of the principal suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre.
While conceding that the appellate court's ruling may be legally sound, we continue to find it incredulous that the prosecution had miserably failed to prove the involvement of a key member of the clan proven to be present at the meetings during which the massacre was planned, thus the Quezon City Regional Trial Court 221's grant of bail.
We can only hope our fears about the possible adverse effects this development my have on the cause of justice for the 58 victims of the massacre, among them 32 colleagues, is unfounded.
KADAMAY along with artist groups Respond and Break the Silence against the Killings, Molotov Pilipinas and social media advocacy collective, the Temperamental Brats staged a mock party marking 100 years since Ferdinand Marcos' birth. The event underscored the continuing dictatorship and parallels between Marcos' Martial Law and the Duterte presidency.
Duterte not only defends Marcos' memory, he copies it. Kadamay says that Duterte's recent apologetic words are empty as he is the primary culprit in endorsing the unabated series of killings since the start of his term.
We note how the administration policies and moves have also deprived many of access to basic social services like housing, health, sustainable employment and livable wages.
Furthermore it has opted to reward the current industry of murder' involved in Oplan Tokhang and even the Martial Law in Mindanao.
Under Duterte, the PNP has received the highest bonuses in history for the implementation of the drug war in particular. Additionally, both the PNP and AFP are set to gain gigantic upgrades in their budgetary allotment for 2018.
Concretely, the PNP is set to receive a whopping P900 million for Oplan Tokhang alone. Imagine how many more deaths this will result in. Duterte says he does not condone the killing of children yet his drug war makes everybody, especially the poor a target; just like Marcos. The commendation received by the PNP in Caloocan despite the recent gruesome murders of Kian Delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman a.k.a. Kulot speaks of how the regime persists in applauding the killings.
Martial Law may be legally confined to Mindanao at the moment but in Metro Manila, Filipinos and mostly poor communities, have already felt the brunt of Martial Law.
DUE process is a mere abstract concept in the Philippines, grandstanded by crying cops, fabricated police reports and blatant lies. The human rights situation in the country has been on the decline, with the inception of the drug war campaign and the continuation of Duterte's counterinsurgency program. This rotting, brutish and fascist leadership is taking a toll on the Filipino youth as they, both in urban and rural areas, are being murdered by State instruments.
Karapatan joined Lakbayan delegates from all over the country to protest the continuing attacks in indigenous communities, the prevailing situation in Marawi and the continuing implementation of fascist policies that perpetuate attacks against the people.
We call for widespread indignation against the killing of a 19-year-old Lumad student from Salugpongan Community Center. Obillo Bay-ao, a Grade 6 student, was with his father and brother on the morning of Sept. 5, 2017. The group was on its way to harvest corn in the boundary of Sitio Barrobo and Sitio Dulyan. At around 2pm, they were on their way home when two armed members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit fired twice at Bay-ao. The latter was hit at the back but continued running. The Cafgu elements attempted to pursue him, but stopped when people were starting to gather. Bay-ao was brought to the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City but was declared dead at around 9:15 in the evening.
What could have justified the killing of a 19-year old boy who was just harvesting corn? What could have prompted two armed government forces to mindlessly target a student with no provocation? In identifying the Lumad as "enemies of the State," their lives of the and their communities are seriously put under threat. This is the framework that Oplan Kapayapaan and other counterinsurgency measures instills on State forces — that they have the license to kill.
We reiterate the demand for the immediate prosecution of the two Cafgu members, identified as Joven and Ben Salangani. We remind Duterte that his job as President is not to kill Filipinos, not to defend his police and military force, not to surrender our patrimony and resources to foreign interests.


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Q: Appropriate naive benchmark for class recall in binary classification for unbalanced dataset I have an unbalanced dataset with 3969 rows of customer data. The labels are whether or not they subscribed for a loan (yes or no). There are 3618 no cases (91.2%) and 351 yes cases (8.8%). I am more interested in predicting yes than no.
My question concerns finding an appropriate benchmark or naive prediction against which to compare my models. (I am mainly working with decision trees, but I don't think that is relevant to my question.) I understand that because the data is heavily unbalanced, the naive prediction would be to assign all cases as no, which would give a prediction accuracy of 91.2%; thus, any model I develop must have greater than 91.2% accuracy. Here are the results of my initial analysis (of a 30% validation set after model development on a 70% training set of the data):

Here, the overall accuracy of 89.75% is less than 91.2%, so I consider this a bad model overall. However, I am primarily interested in the predictions of the yes cases. For this initial model, the class recall for yes is 11.43%. That is, the original dataset had 8.8% yes data, and this model can predict yes 11.43% of the time. Is this good or bad? Is it even relevant to my intention of identifying yes cases? Or does "good or bad" depend entirely on how much weight or cost I assign to finding yes versus missing no?
As a second step, I know that my poor accuracy results are because many algorithms struggle with unbalanced data. So, I undersampled the training set (not the entire dataset) to obtain a 50-50 proportion across yes and no cases and then built a new model on that undersampled data. Here are the results of my analysis of this balanced dataset (the 30% validation set after model development on the undersampled training set:

Since this data is balanced, I understand that the naive benchmark for accuracy is 50%. So, the accuracy of 70.5% is a good overall result. The class recall for yes of 54.29% is also a good result, and so this second model is undoubtedly superior to the first. However, my second question again concerns the benchmark for comparison of the class recall for yes.  Am I supposed to compare that against the initial dataset distribution of 8.8% yes, or is there some other naive benchmark for this  value? I am fairly certain that I should not be comparing the class recall with 50% because the validation dataset was not balanced; only the training dataset was.
So, in summary, what is the appropriate naive benchmark against which to compare class recall results in binary classification for an unbalanced dataset?

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