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Tag Archives: adventure

Pactum Fausta

The cocoon discorporated around them, reforming into the three Microbian angels. Joni found herself standing on solid ground, or something equating to ground. The light from overhead was diffused, tinted cool. She turned, looking in all directions. They had been deposited on a platform beside a placid sea, or perhaps a large lake. Beyond the featureless water the sky rose up from the horizon in a gentle curve and became a pale blue-green cyclorama without any hint of transition. Joni knew that she was actually looking at the inner curvature of a glass bottle. An air pocket at the back of the bottle kept the Captive Sea at bay, leaving roughly a third of the bottle’s enormous volume available for terrestrial exploitation, and in which the Microsians had constructed, over time and countless generations, a vast and intricate city.

Joni looked back over her shoulder at the towering columns and suspended platforms rising higher and higher into the air pocket, the uppermost levels disappearing into veils of fine vapor.

Overhead, spanning the enormous bottle interior was a progression of six buttressed platforms, a vertical array of enormous bridges, each serving as the foundation of its own Microsian city.  The highest level was barely visible above a ceiling of cloud.

“It’s a soda bottle,” mused Jas as he strained to pierce the overhead cloud layer. “See? The hour-glass shape and fluted sides. Looks like it’s from the 1950s or 60s, the same kind Santa is holding in those vintage print ads.”

“So somebody littered it maybe seventy or eighty years ago,” calculated Joni. “But that doesn’t jibe – the city looks much older than that.”

“Much older,” agreed Jas. “Centuries old – by macro world standards. And if my cultural anthro classes were anywhere close to accurate – soda bottles definitely weren’t around in the middle ages when this place appears to have been built.”

The Microsian with the green chloroplasts suspended in its cytoplasm glided forwarded. Extending arm-like pseudopods, it indicated in a decidedly fluid sign-language for the humans to enter the city.

“Makes no sense…” whispered Joni as they passed into a shaded concourse between enormous pillars that held up the second level of the city. “…unless there is something to the time dilation theory – that time moves faster at micro scale.”

Jas answered with raised eyebrows, as if to say: that would explain a great deal.

The angels make a proposal.

The shadowy passage delivered the party into a well-lit, open intersection where several streets converged. Joni thought of Times Square in New York City, but far less busy. A few Microsians glided on flowing pseudopods at uniform speed through the intersection, and Joni was left with the feeling they were avoiding contact with the humans. At the center of this town square (octagon, really) were a pair of transparent columns, which rose up side by side, disappearing into the next level up. The trio of angels herded Joni and Jas toward the columns.

One of the three, whom Joni had nicknamed Merryweather, stepped up to the nearer of the two columns, stepping into an opening designed to accommodate the stature of Microsians. In the next moment Merryweather stood inside what was now revealed as a tube. The floor under the angel’s pseudopod feet was solid, yet Joni could see that it was the gel-like cohesive interface of water and air – surface tension. In the next instant the water accelerated upward, pushing Merryweather up and away through the transparent tube. Inside the neighboring tube, a core of water descended at the same time – counter force to the rising column.

The two columns must be a single looped tube, with the physics for ascending or descending provided by capillary action. How very clever! “It’s an elevator!” proclaimed Joni with a mixture of delight and admiration. “After you,” she said, waving Jas into the tube ahead of her.

Jas and Joni, Flora and Fauna stepped into the ascent tube and were propelled up through the amazing microscopic city.

Joni marveled at the simplicity and genius of the Microsian elevator as it hurled them upward at a relative astonishing speed. The foundation level of the Primo Gradu dropped away as the party ascended through the space between buildings, then a moment of darkness as the tube carried them through the second platform.  In the space of a single breath they burst back into the light of the second city as the capillary conveyer carried them higher and higher, through the third, then the fourth.

They broke into the light of the fifth city.  The grand vista of the Captured Sea was breathtaking.  At this altitude the curved walls of the bottle drew closer, curving inward to meet them as they rocketed skyward.  The vista revealed endless arrays of algae farms clinging to the inside of the bottle.  A shimmer of movement among those vast gravity-defying fields betrayed the presence of shy Microsians– the grower caste was hard at work, tending the simple crops that provide the colony with energy and oxygen.

The darkness of the sixth level swallowed them momentarily. When they emerged from shadow, the light of the sixth city washed over them, the brightest yet.  Joni saw that they had ascended above the atmospheric vapor frequenting the upper levels of the bottle-space, now cloaking the seventh city from view of the others below.

Flora pushed a pseudopod finger through the inner cylinder wall. At once their ascent slowed.  They rose into the light of the uppermost city – the terminus of their dramatic vertical transit.  Flora stepped through the cylinder’s inner membrane.  The rest followed her onto the clean plain of the Semptimo Gradu, the city of the seventh level.

The new arrivals crossed to where Merryweather was waiting at the entrance of a roughly sphere-shaped building, several stories tall. At the moment of reunion, the three angels gathered close, extended their long necks inward, and bowed their heads until all three touched momentarily with a soft musical hum.

Merryweather swiveled her gaze to Joni, meeting human eyes with the Microsian’s bottomless red/black photoreceptive organelles. The humming continued, but seemed to emanate from all directions – more sensed than heard. The concept of enter here tingled like an impulse on Joni’s mind. She could comply, or resist, with equal effort. She turned to Jas.

“They want us to go inside.”

A grand corridor opened into an impossibly vast chamber that instantly evoked in Joni a sweet yet painful memory of visiting the Aerium in Brandenburg, when she had taken Kaya to the simulated tropical island resort built within the massive airship construction hangar. But here, in place of a palm tree spangled tropical paradise, one side of the enormous space was open to the soda bottle’s bottom, forming a gigantic window looking out into the microcosmic wilderness. A paramecium swooped through the tableau with a Microsian rider astride its whale-sized form, gripping reins for steering the huge ciliate.

“Of course. They defend their city with a microscopic cavalry,” commented Jas.

“Everything they need comes from microscopic resources,” said Joni with admiration. “These buildings weren’t built. They were grown. They’ve undoubtedly mastered techniques for genetic coding that we haven’t dreamed of. I would love to see if they’ve figured out…”

We are the Microsia Aquatica. You are from the Great Elsewhere.

“Yes. That’s right,” said Joni. “We call ourselves humans. It is a great honor to meet you. Thank you for rescuing us.”

Humans have been here before. Honor…Thanks… do not advance the imperatives of the Unity.

“What are the imperatives?” asked Jas.

Food – hummed Flora

Reproduction – hummed Fauna.

Defense – hummed Merryweather.

“Well then how can we thank you… express our gratitude?”

Gratitude does not advance the imperatives of the Unity. We propose a symbiosis.

“What kind of symbiosis?” asked Joni.

The angels stepped aside to reveal a container so meticulously crafted that it looked like polished platinum. A round porthole set in the side glowed with an inner luminescence. Something about about the shape and size of the container made Joni uneasy. She stepped tentatively closer. The collective humming continued…

A symbiosis to advance a new imperative.

Joni put her hand on the rectilinear box. It was cool to the touch, like the water outside. She leaned toward the softly glowing porthole. “Beyond food, reproduction, and defense? What other imperative could there be?” she asked as she cautiously leaned into the small window.

Domination – hummed the three angels.

Joni pressed her hand on the glass and peered inside. Her eyes flashed wide. Every muscle began to shake. The box contained a human body.

We will repair this individual, and you will help us attain the fourth imperative.

Joni knew this body. The face, though pale, bruised and broken, was still recognizable. It was Kaya.

Before Jas could stop her, she turned to Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather and gave her answer.

The Mercy of Angels

The Microbial Cocoon

The three angels approached and encircled the humans in a slowly tightening ring. Tension radiated from James, probably his combat training shifting into gear. If there was a fight, was he in any shape to defend them? Joni doubted it, and knew for certain that she wasn’t – but it wasn’t a conflict she was worried about. Joni put her hand on his arm in a calming gesture.

They drifted in aquatic micro space miles above the submerged bottle. From within, points of light twinkled through unimaginably dense glass. Bioluminescence, Joni reasoned. If the city boasted light, maybe there was heat, and who knows what other unimaginable micro wonders. For the city to exist in this hostile environment was itself a wonder, and could only be explained because of the colony’s ideal location – inside the air pocket of the bottle, safe from invaders. Joni recalled that many species of freshwater microorganisms preferred to colonize similarly protected spaces. It seemed that the Microsians learned from the best.

The angels showed no sign of aggression – though who really knows what aggressive angels look like? – thought Joni. The creatures closed their ring around the pair. Pseudopodia grew, broadening and thickening – the limbs of one Microsian interweaving with those of the others, forming a watertight plait of eukaryotic membrane that enveloped Joni and Jas – a near perfectly spherical cocoon. The angel’s clusters of red photoreceptor eyes faced outward.

Inside the cocoon Joni felt the relative gravity increase as contractile vacuoles in the membrane pumped water out, while green organelles – chloroplasts – replaced the water with oxygen. In seconds, the inner space was dry. Joni touched the pressure point on her collar: her helmet evaporated with a soft pop. She took a breath. The cocoon’s air was sweet, richer than she was used to.

Jas filled his lungs. “Seems okay,” he intoned with an approving rumble. “Don’t breath too deeply, or you’ll hyperventilate.”

Joni pressed her hand against the wall of the cocoon, could feel the thrumming reverberation of cilia working in wave-like coordination, propelling them… somewhere. “They’re moving us,” Joni thought aloud. Although the Microsian cocoon had no windows, the shifting of watery light playing through translucent cell membranes confirmed movement.

Jas finished her thought: “To that bottle, and whatever is inside it.”

Again, the dark cloud of desperation threatened. Joni held it at bay by focusing on the present, on the now. She concentrated on breathing. Short breaths, spaced three seconds apart.

“Are you all right?” asked Jas.

Joni shook her head. “Kaya is gone,” she answered, and continued distantly. “Whatever life was before, no longer is. Our mission…the crew…me…you…all of it…gone.”

Jas did not offer any words – there were none. He put his arm around Joni, and not just for warmth. The only sound was the flittering butterfly humming of the ciliary membranes fanning the water, moving them toward the Microsian colony in the submerged bottle.

The micro-scape was a watercolor blur of blue, green, and amber. There was no up or down. Joni closed her eyes, shutting off the dizzying vista and the vertigo that threatened to make her puke. She felt James’ arm pull her close, his right hand held firmly around her waist. She was spent, both physically and emotionally. He was now the only thing anchoring Joni, albeit tenuously, to time and space. Kaya was gone, her sweet soul and living brilliance extinguished in a moment of confusion and violence, and with them, Joni’s will to continue with the mission – with even the most rudimentary tasks of survival.

But survive they must, somehow…and do so without ship or crew, or the most basic shelter. Jas moved them forward, away from the aftermath of the battle, away from that unthinkable disaster that had pitted them against the strange indigenous sentients. The micro thrusters in his suit harnessed the water’s Brownian motion, directed excited molecules of H2O to move them deeper into the strange land of micro space.

Joni opened her eyes. Her pupils adjusted to the gloom. Ahead, in the distance she could see twinkling lights…and they came from inside a familiar shape, far away yet unimaginably huge. It was a bottle.

And then they where no longer alone. Figures appeared out of the micro haze…

First one, then a second, and finally a third of the aquatic seraphim materialized out of the watery gloom directly ahead. Each had wing-like membranes bound to gently waving cilia trailing from their pseudopodia, and down the ventral surface of head, neck, and torso. Joni wasn’t sure which was the greater revelation: that angels were real, or that angels were microorganisms.

Cytoplasm Will be Spilled This Day

Micro-nized humans find themselves in a Microsian war. Illustration by Eric R Russell

“Joni, stop!  Don’t do it!  They don’t understand!  No, Joni… NO!!!”

Before his eyes the disaster unfolded in slow-motion.  Jas Ford was too distant to stop her, too far away to intercept the sweeping arc of Joni’s scimitar.  Time crawled.  Jas watched in horror, unable to look away as Joni Janders pulled the blade along a deadly radius.

At the last instant the Scylex warrior spun to face the enraged human and met her scythe with a look of anger-turned-surprise.  The point easily separated membrane and cytoskeleton.  Ichor-like cytoplasm billowed from the horrible torso-length gash in amber clouds of liberated organelles.  The Microsian’s bisected nucleus spilled its milky trove of genetic code into the cold, dark water.

A microorganism is dead, but using those words didn’t diminish the moment – Jas Ford knew that he and his crew had just done what they had sworn not to do; they had taken a life for a life, and in doing so, brought calamity and horror to paradise.

Author’s note: Microscopic Monsters is now being featured on Best Science Fiction Blogs

The Generals Strategize

A Meeting of Microscopic Minds
Created with Adobe Creative Suite by Eric R Russell
Copyright 2019 Eric R Russell

Helmets came off.  Cilia relaxed.  Pseudopods morphed into arms and legs.  Joni Janders knew the Microsian… knew her well.  The paramecium-ride over from the colony had bonded them.  But the man in front of her, this James Ford… he was a mystery.  Suddenly her osmotic diving suit felt uncomfortably revealing.

Once More Unto the Breach

Water rushed passed her. Cilia thrashed around her legs. She could feel Cobb’s chest pressing into her back as they jointly gripped the reins with all their strength. Their Microsian escort was doing the real work, the work of steering the huge paramecium through the battle. A nearby explosion made Joni wince. The enemy was getting closer.

Illuminating an Ancient Secret

The ship rocked beneath her feet.  A near-yet-muffled report of something striking the hull accompanied ship-wide alarms.

“What the hell is going out there?!” barked Captain Dylan Cobb from the command deck.

At his elbow, Joni Janders felt her jaw slacken… but it wasn’t the size of the paramecium that evoked dismay.  No, it was something else – someone else.  There, in the light of the ship’s nose lamp, a humanoid figure was clearly visible astride the whale-scaled protozoan, gripping some kind of riding tack with pseudopod hands.  At the end of a long curved neck, a bulbous head swiveled left, then right, and the Microsian’s single red photosensitive eyespot pulled apart into two eyes, then gazed for an instant across half millimeter of aquatic micro-space at Joni.

Microscopic Monsters – The Age of Discovery, Chapter 22: Microsia Aquatica Symbiotica

“Stay with the ship,” I tell Barron Wolfe as Lyra, Gyro, Rand and I hop from Cyclops’ deck onto the lowest platform of the Microsian colony, the nearest thing to a dock that I have seen since our departure from Duckweed Base. I tighten the strap of my satchel, feeling the weight of its contents resting against my hip. I signal to Rand, indicating for him to lead the way.

To my right, there is no partition or seawall to prevent an accidental misstep and tumble into the enclosed sea, or to prevent waves from flooding into the city – an obvious contrast to seaside communities from our world. But of course, there are no waves on this sea, and no tides. Other than Cyclops the waterfront is devoid of other boats or vessels. I reckon that if the Microsians make use of watercraft, such vessels would be submarine in nature, and are harbored below us, in some manner of underwater harbor.

The multitude of Microsians observed previously all along the waterfront on every level of the micro mega-metropolis, has withdrawn and is no longer anywhere to be seen. Have they become suddenly timid? Or now that we are closer, do they prefer to observe us from the shadows? Perhaps their curiosity has already been satiated and they no longer find us of interest. Although questions bombard my thoughts, it is the myriad of possible answers that now flood my mind.

I draw a calming breath, confronting the perils of amateur anthropology: projecting human behavior onto these decidedly un-human creatures is not the way of the scientific process. That mistake will lead to incorrect assumptions, misunderstandings, and very likely disaster. The dark legacy of explorers-that-came-before serves as a reminder to remain clearheaded, objective, and above all… observant.

We enter the first city without fanfare or hoopla. The micro metropolis appears to be abandoned, yet we know that we are being watched from what appear to be windows carved in the face of the many multi-story earthen-formed edifices. With Rand in the lead, our landing party strolls along the sea-edge. I take up the end of our procession and scan the spartan streets, the shadows between the odd structures ahead of us, for any sign of the Microsians. There are none.

Overhead, spanning the enormous bottle interior is a progression of six buttressed platforms, a vertical array of enormous bridges that each serve as the foundation for its own Microsian city. The highest level is barely visible above a ceiling of cloud. The uppermost city, Rand tells me, is where we are headed.

Randy explains that each of the seven levels is a city unto itself, complete with towering buildings built upon it, and inverted domiciles hanging like stalagmites from the underside. And yet, it is eerily quiet. There is no movement.

“The Microsians,” I whisper, “have made themselves scarce, I daresay.”

“Where did they all go?” questions Gyro anxiously.

“No need to be nervous… or insulted,” answers Rand. “The Unity shared the momentous occasion of your arrival, witnessed it through the eyes of every individual, then created a memory of it in its own fashion. Now it has returned to its normal routine. Life goes on!” A stray thought makes him laugh. “Just because a little ship full of micro-sized humans – that its scouts have been watching for weeks – finally shows up, hardly warrants walking off the job and calling for a holiday. This isn’t Washington D.C., after all!”

“They all have tasks then? asks Lyra. “Like the division of labor in the social orders of honeybees, termites, and naked mole rats?”

“More complex than those. The Microsia Aquatica symbiotica have a rigid caste system, and species-wide social equality. There is no hierarchy – no leader, no president, king, queen, or emperor. Just three castes: warriors, growers, and crafters – and all have equal importance and influence.”

“Efficient, but limiting I would think,” comments Lyra.

“Three jobs! That’s not enough,” remarks Gyro. “A society needs more than defense, agriculture, and construction. What about a constabulary?”

Lyra: “And educators!”

Myself: “And explorers.”

“Irrelevant human institutions, all based on human nature,” says Rand, adopting his Academy guest professor of social anthropology tone. “And therefore meaningless here. Among Microsians, at least with this symbiotica subspecies, the three castes cooperate in various combinations to fill non-essential niches. You’ll find that most of the vocational callings of our world have no equivalent in this one. Best to abandon those preconceptions.”

“It’s remarkable!” says Lyra. “A civilization without leaders, or even family groups.”

“How then do they deal with visitors?” I inquire.

“Seems that the arrival of visitors is extremely rare, and from what I’ve learned, so rare that there is no formalized procedure for greeting, welcoming, or meeting newcomers.”

Lyra: “When you arrived, out of thin air, it must’ve changed their world.”

“You would think so,” muses Rand thoughtfully, “and yet, it was almost as if I had been expected. When I materialized, I was escorted to an empty chamber where three Microsians met with me: a warrior, a grower, and a crafter. Of course I didn’t understand those differentiations at the time. Each of them attempted communication with me, in their own way, with various combinations of ciliary waves and crystal resonance – and a lot of gazing into my eyes. Two of the three were unable to understand me, and I failed to decode their strange non verbal communication. But the Microsian of the warrior caste succeeded – and she did so spectacularly. Alontyn was able to decipher spoken English very quickly. And even though I sensed some rudiments of her communication immediately, it took me a bit longer to become fluent in her microsian vibro-tongue.”

“Her?” asks Lyra. “The warrior caste includes females?”

“As do all the castes. In a strictly biological sense, all Microsians are female. The exchange of DNA is not necessary for them to reproduce.”

How will these revelations play out over the coming minutes? I am more curious than ever: “Then with whom will we be meeting?”

“As was the case when I arrived, it was decided that a representative from each caste would meet with each of you. You’ll be bonded to a single Microsian, who will become the conduit of your voice to the Unity. The representatives are waiting for you.” Rand pointed skyward, toward the uppermost platform. “Up there.”

“That’s going to be quite a climb,” says Gyro with a tired sigh.

Rand smiles. “There will be no climbing today. The Microsians have a much better way to move between cities. Over here…”

Rand leads us away from the water’s edge, to a cylindrical structure made of transparent material. It disappears overhead into the second platform, and I assume continues upward to the cities above.

“This is a capillary conveyer.   It’s how they move from one city, up or down, to another. You’re going to enjoy this.” Rand steps through the outer wall of the cylinder and is now inside, standing on a film of transparency. He beckons us to join him with a hand gesture. I lean into the wall of the cylinder. Though it appears solid, the material offers a slight resistance – then quite effortlessly, with a gentle pop, I am inside this microsian elevator tube. The circular space easily accommodates we four, and could hold twice our number.

Rand, who has kept one hand extended through the transparency, assesses the group, then announces: “Do not touch the wall. When I pull my hand inside, enzymes in the cylinder membrane will denature the proteins in the floor under our feet and we will be suspended on the water itself, via surface tension. The water beneath will instantly carry us up via capillary action.”

I cannot help marveling at the simplicity and genius of the Microsian elevator.

Rand withdraws his hand from the wall of the tube – and in the next instant we are propelled upward at what is for us, an astonishing speed. The foundation level of the Primo Gradu drops away as we ascend through the space between buildings, then a moment of darkness as the tube carries us through the second platform. In the space of a single breath we burst back into the light of the second city as the conveyer carries us higher and higher, through the third, then the fourth.

“Enjoy the view, but don’t press against the cylinder wall,” insists my always thorough first officer.

We break into the light of the fifth city. The grand vista of the captured sea is breathtaking. At this altitude the curved walls of the bottle are drawing closer, curving inward to meet us as we rocket skyward. This vantage point reveals the arrays of algae farms clinging to the inside of the bottle. A shimmer of movement among those vast gravity-defying fields betrays presence of the shy Microsians – the grower caste is hard at work, tending the simple crops that provide the colony with energy and oxygen.

The darkness of the sixth level swallows us momentarily, and when we emerge from shadow, the light of the sixth city is the brightest yet. We have ascended above the atmospheric vapor that drifts about the upper levels of the bottle-space, cloaking the seventh city from the others below.

Rand slowly pushes two fingers through the inner cylinder wall. At once our ascent slows. As we enter the darkness of the seventh and uppermost platform, our speed drops to the scale equivalent of a Manhattan Otis elevator.

We rise into the light of the uppermost city – the terminus of our vertical transit. Rand steps through the cylinder’s inner membrane. The rest of us follow him onto the clean plain of the Semptimo Gradu, the city of the seventh level.

“Remember,” says Rand, “stay as calm and relaxed as you can muster. And only touch them if invited to. Ah, here they come.”

From the base of a massive spheroidal structure, a contingent of Microsians moves in our direction. There are many more than the four that I was expecting.   One is in the lead: that would be Rand’s Alontyn. Behind her I count nine others. Of course… one from each caste for myself, Lyra, and Gyro – for the pairing test.

I am captivated by the approaching entourage.

My first impression is one of translucent membrane, exaggerated slender neck and limbs, a head crest of membrane-bound cilia that follows a longitudinal line from forehead, over the head, down the neck and back, ending where the legs part from the lower torso. The same cilia-bound membrane adorns the backside of the arms.

The essential two-legged, two-armed, head, neck, and torso construction of the Microsians belie their exotic nature. Everything about them reveals how un-human they are – but how perfectly microsian, like every organism we have encountered, adapted to living in a micro-verse. They appear to glide over the ground. Microsian stride is a flowing movement in which the human approximations of hip, leg, knee, and foot form and reform from one moment to the next from pairs of amoeba-like pseudopodia. If a greater stride is required, mass for a larger leg is drawn from the torso, which in turn becomes slighter. And if arms need to stretch further, the same thing occurs, with cytoplasm flowing from the torso and legs into the arms to supply the required mass. Suspended throughout the microsian bodies are globules and spheres of all sizes, evidently serving as the individual’s vital organs – exactly as we have seen with the organelles of protozoa throughout our travels.

Not until they are mere steps away do I notice the most un-human aspect of our hosts.

The Microsians have a single red eyespot. Though disconcerting at first, this should come as no surprise, for we have seen the same simple adaptation for light response many times, especially with the green algal protists whose single photosensitive red eyespots serve to detect safe or desirable levels of solar radiation. With the Microsia aquatica the red eyespot is located in the center of a bulb-shaped head, which like all their appendages, extends from the torso on an extremely long, slender stalk-like neck.   Not until the Microsian appears intent on careful observation, does its large single red eyespot pull apart, forming two smaller eyes that take up positions in the face similar to where our own eyes are located. I theorize that this is a response to situations when binocular observation is required.

I find myself surrounded by an earnest Microsian trio: a grower, a crafter, and a warrior. They encircle me, their faces almost, but not quite, touching my own, their eyes piercing mine. They take turns performing an almost avian-type display with waves of raised cilia accompanied by subsonic reverberations from the excretory crystals in their cytoplasm. The vibrations washing over and through me are not unpleasant, and I am reminded of the deep reverberation I have experienced while riding in the engine cab of a steam locomotive, a sensation that could easily lull me to sleep.

But there is no cognitive impression. As a sense of disappointment begins to intrude on the experience I am slammed by a wave of intense feeling.

When she of the crafting caste locks her gaze onto mine and performs her dance/song I am suddenly filled with an explosion of euphoric contentment. The initial overwhelming moment quickly resolves into more definable feelings of inclusiveness, completeness, safety, wholeness… unity. So powerful are the unbidden emotions that I forget to breath, grow lightheaded, then gasp for lungs-full of the enriched algae-made oxygen. After a minute the emotions temper, supplanted by more grounded images/thoughts/ideas. I regain control of my breathing, lower my resistance, and let the connection happen.

Oxhya, her name exists as normally as it didn’t a moment earlier, is painting a fresco in my mind – a picture story that says we are compatible, have always been, will always be. She and I have become what the Microsia Aquatica value above all else: symbiotic.

Oxhya is more content than happy, feeling the same sense of completeness as I.

I speak the words: “How is this possible?”
Her answer arrives as threads of a million thoughts, weaving into a new tapestry. At their foundations, matter and energy are simply fields of energy, attracting and repelling. One very pure form of that energy is consciousness, capable of interacting in more dynamic ways than most other kinds. The consciousness generated by living things is unique to each individual, and has a forceful nature of attraction. That elemental attraction is particularly powerful between Microsians and humans, making symbiotic links of interspecies consciousness possible.

It is clear to me now, finding ourselves in this amazing place, meeting this never-seen-before species, is no accident. We have been led here, to this moment.   Our voyage of discovery through the micro habitats of the pond universe, though seemingly one of exploration, driven by curiosity and a need to understand the fundamentals of life, was much, much more. We have been steered and redirected at every turn, onto paths that would bring us here, for this meeting, for this joining. And yet, I cannot deny that the wonders we have observed in our travels seem to have perfectly prepared us for this moment.

“Why have you brought us here?”

We have failed to understand why humans do not seek symbiosis with life. This has caused us pain. The People have sought enlightenment, but cannot find it. You were brought here to make the People understand why your kind does not seek symbiosis with life. Humans benefit most from all worlds, so why are humans not stewards of all worlds? Why do humans destroy worlds? Why do humans waste? Why do humans put material into the People’s world that ends life? Why do humans…

My involuntary response to Oxhya’s questions exposes her to an emotion wholly new to the Microsia Aquatica symbiotica.

As my arms drop to my sides, my left hand falls upon the satchel, and feels the weight contained within. Now is the time to deliver that which was sent to my world, a package that I was given strict orders to hand over “when the time was right.” I haven’t a doubt in my mind that this is that time.

Without breaking my gaze with Oxhya, my fingers fumble with the satchel’s leather closure. I reach inside and wrap my hand around the cloth-enclosed parcel, then gently withdraw the bundle.

Oxhya extends her right arm. The fin-like hand spreads wide to receive the cloth-enclosed parcel. I set it gently onto her hand, which wraps tenderly to secure it. Small pseudopods form fingers that deftly unwrap the bundle. Cotton cloth falls away from a pile of perfect teardrop-shaped black crystals, each the size of my thumb. A wave of knowledge: I feel and know instantly that these are the mineral remains of a microsian eye.

Oxhya lifts the black shards to her face, and I see what she sees – feel what she feels. This was Elaryn, also of the crafting caste, who gave her life to send the information to the outer world, to the humans. From her crystalline essence came the instructions for building the amazing quantum restructuring micronizer.

Recalling my own hubris I am embarrassed. It was no grand accomplishment of human genius! It was a gift from the very people our world endangers – a brilliant conveyance for getting us to come to them.

No – it was for getting me to come to her.

End of Book 1

Author’s note: Microscopic Monsters is now being featured on Best Science Fiction Blogs

Microscopic Monsters–The Age of Discovery, Chapter 21: City in a Bottle

Cyclops discovers a microscopic city built inside a submerged bottle

Day 16: 1230 hours

They are watching us!

Lyra, Gyro, and Barron have joined me topside, but nobody has yet found words to adequately express any emotion, let alone a vague analysis of the moment. We, my crew and I, stand side-by-side, silently transfixed on a scene that I can barely put into thought, let alone language. Could this be how British explorer James Cook felt, after Europeans had been crisscrossing the Pacific for a century, when he then discovered a thriving society, hundreds of thousands strong, on an isolated archipelago in the middle of that ocean?

Not only watching, but evaluating us!

The nearest platform of this incongruous micro metropolis, one built at the same level as the captured sea, is approximately two centimeters away. The waterfront is lined with the bipedal forms, each seemingly identical to the next, an observation that I attribute to the effect of distance.

Below the glimmering surface of the miniature sea, ciliated organisms cruise the waters around us, bipedal beings astride paramecia, driving them like frontiersmen on horseback.

Irrefutable, the visual evidence penetrates my mind, collides with my sluggish comprehension. The wisdom of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle drifts like welcome salvation into my thoughts: It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.

“Skipper, what should we do?” whispers Gyro, his voice tremulous. I can hear disbelief fermenting into fear. His almost-terror-stricken gaze shoots from the parapets above to the waters surrounding us. “There are hundreds of them! We should…”

“Arm ourselves is what we should do,” interjects Barron Wolfe. “I have a harpoon gun that would serve as a…”

“Stay right where you are, mister,” I tell the engine master. “All of you, in fact. Nobody move. They are watching, assessing us for whatever imperatives guide their behavior. Let’s not give them a reason to act hastily or against us.” I pitch my voice to project confidence and control. “We are explorers. Our first task is to observe. Any notions you may have about what this place is, or who these creatures are, are idle guesses. Am I understood?”

All heads nod. Good!

Lyra’s eyes widen. She points across the water toward the city. “Jonathan, someone is coming.”

The figure, a distant speck at first, grows in size and resolution with every step, and emerges slowly from the intervening mists that hover at various layers in this enclosed world. Though I do not know how, the figure is oddly familiar. Its stride, a steady gate upon the water’s surface, is incomprehensibly recognizable.

It is a man, his dark hair visible above a blue-gray uniform eerily similar to my own. Half a centimeter from Cyclops he stops, then incongruously raises his left arm and waves in a decidedly friendly manner, as if greeting us on Pennsylvania Avenue on a summer Saturday evening en route to Ford’s Theater. Even before I hear his shouted greeting, I know who it is.

“Jonathan Adler! Are you ever a sight for sore eyes!”

It cannot be Rand Emerson, but that is exactly who it is, my executive officer, right-hand man, companion from my academy days – alive?   In my mind, playing like a nickelodeon picture show, I recall the final moments before he evaporated into the ether of quantum space. There we were, the original five of us, the crew of the MS Cyclops, standing on the reaction stage of the machine – before those incredible energies bore down upon us, before Rand had glitched.

As Rand resumes his approach – as his grinning face becomes identifiable, my mind is already racing to understand, to explain how this can be, and something more – a powerful desire to repair the damage of his disappearance. I cannot wait to greet him, the medicine of seeing him whisked safely into the grateful arms of his crew mates. I feel an intense need to heal the tragedy of losing my first officer even before the voyage had begun.   Then I remember my responsibility to the others, to the safety of the ship and her crew.

“Stand where you are, Sergeant!” I call to him. The crew’s welcoming shouts fade to silence and all heads spin toward me with quizzical expressions. On the water, Randall Emerson comes to a military halt, with chin up, heels together, and arms straight at his sides. “Hello, Rand! Sorry about the formality, but you might say that the situation is extraordinary – wouldn’t you agree?”

“I could not agree more, Captain Adler, sir,” he answers with diction crisp enough to cast a flint spark. “Permission to come aboard, sir?”

“You can hold station right where you are, Mr. Emerson,” I tell him. I have no doubt that this is the bona fide Randall Emerson, but I will persist with a line of query that will erase any suspicion that might otherwise linger in the minds of the crew. “Just a couple of questions before I crack open my last bottle of Old Kentucky to welcome you back into the fold.”

“That sounds about, Captain. You loath Old Kentucky,” interjects Rand with a cheerful cadence. “And you always have. You once remarked that it ‘tastes like skunk spray and leaves an aftertaste like a stagnant Potomac backwater in August,’ if I’m not mistaken.”

Muted laughter erupts from the crew.

The quote is accurate, and mimicked precisely, right down to my rural Chesapeake inflection. The man is definitely Randall Emerson. “Your recollection is accurate, nevertheless, that is the swill we have, therefore it will have to suffice,” I tell him. With a friendly gesture, I beckon the would-be crew mate closer.

Rand closes the remaining gap and stops three paces from the gunwale. “The old girl looks like she’s seen her share of rough passage. Gyro, she still yar and nimble as she was in her sea trials?”

Without turning, I stifle Gyro from responding with a raised finger.   “Yes, sea trials. Quite a memorable day. Remind me, Rand, how we ended up at McMurphy’s pub that last afternoon, after that final shakedown?”

Rand Emerson smiles a generous toothy grin. “McMurphy’s hadn’t yet reopened from the fire that took out half the block. We ended up at Old Toad’s, but only after that French steamer crew turned us away from Foggy Bay.   You had four Martinez cocktails and sang ‘Won’t You Come Home, Bill Baily’ until the barkeeper cut you off and showed us the door.”

Lyra plants a hand on her hip and wags the other one at me. “I knew you could sing,” she declares.

“Your skipper is a nightingale,” says Rand with mock sincerity.

“All right, enough of that,” I admonish. “Mr. Emerson, permission to come aboard is granted. We have a lot to talk about and I have a lot of questions.”

Before we go below, Rand enjoys a moment of unfettered affection from his crew mates. They embrace him as they would a long lost brother, and he, as demonstrative with emotion as I remember, returns the fondness. I watch from nearby with a sense of gladness, that a misdirection of fate has been repaired.

1500 hours…

I now sit across a small table from Rand, having just heard his unbelievable story. I shall, to the best of my ability, attempt to retell it as accurately and earnestly as he told it to me.

The thought had never occurred to any of us that when Rand failed to appear with us at Dragonfly Sky-base, that he had actually been redirected to different arrival coordinates. In the short history of transmicronization, nothing like that had ever happened. Rand theorized that a micro fluctuation in the magnetic field, or a stray cosmic ray, skewed the quantum field lensing just as the machine transferred us from the subterranean chambers in Washington DC to the aquatic pond micro verse.

“But however it happened, I awoke in this place, surrounded by the people. Their word, idea really, for themselves defies pronouncing or even conceptualizing. The closest word in English is Unity. You can call them what I call them: the Microsia Aquatica. These Microsians are single cellular organisms. They are protozoa. Each one is an individual eukaryotic cell with all the usual trimmings: nucleus, mitochondria, golgi structures, even cilia. They seem to have characteristics of several classes of protista, including pseudopodia, like an Amoeba, and cilia, like Paramecium. As you’ve seen, they use other microorganisms like we use beasts of burden.”

Visible through the porthole behind him, a Microsian rode swiftly by on paramecium-back.

“So they are not confined to this bottle?” I asked.

“Wait… you mean to tell me… this is a bottle?” Rand laughed. “I wondered, but never knew. Anyway…. They come and go all the time… well, not all the time – it isn’t always safe for them to go out there. Microsians are the prey in more than a couple predator-and-prey ecological relationships. But the bottle, funny that I couldn’t figure that out, makes an impregnable shelter at this scale. As long as they are inside, nothing can touch them. And even though they are thoroughly at home in the water, they are not confined to it. The air pocket in here is the perfect micro habitat for their… colony, again they use a different word. I finally came to understand that their word represents an idea for a cohesive formation built by the progenitors of the Unity for the protection and prosperity of the Unity and its descendants.”

“This is amazing,” I whispered, trying to comprehend the picture Rand was painting of this secret and hidden civilization. “So there are baby Microsians.”

Rand shook his head. “Descendants, Jon, but not children. They are single-celled organisms. They don’t do things… the way we do.”

My mind was reeling, yet relishing the information. “Are you telling me that they reproduce asexually… that they divide?”

My old friend lifted his glass of mediocre sour mash. “I see that Lyra has made a good start at turning you into a cell biologist. Yes, they reproduce by fission. I’ve seen it a few times. It’s a fascinating process.”

“Maybe I will have that opportunity,” I said excitedly. “But tell me more about them. What about culture? What about their history? Have you learned to speak Microsian?”

“Whoa there, Skip,” he chided me. “They don’t speak exactly. Microsian communication uses several of their organelles and structures, but none are auditory. An idea is expressed partially through vibration of their cilia in concert with reverberations from excretory crystals, like a silent resonating symphony. It took me quite some time to work out a basic vocabulary, but now I have the hang of it. But they can do something that you and I have never dreamed of… if they coordinate their reverberation, the Unity becomes a living computing machine. I’ve only seen it happen once, but it was impressive. That seems to be how they develop complex ideas and make major decisions. The Unity is very much a unified society.”

“I would like to see that as well. Can they understand you?”

“Easily… child’s play to them, if they had children – especially if there are two or more nearby. They seem to perceive the sound waves frequencies of my voice, and then compute a translation into basic concepts, rearranging the parts into ideas they are more familiar with. The more Microsians in the adjacent Unity, the faster they compute.”

“Rand, this discovery of yours…”

“Completely by accident. I take no credit,” he said, tipping back his glass and exhaling. “I’ve had smoother.”

“The luckiest accident in human history. We have to get into that city and learn more about the Microsians. Do you have their trust? I mean, can you get us in there?”

“I doubt they have such concepts as trust or distrust,” said Rand. “They are curious about you though. They sent me out to greet you, and invite you into the colony. They’ve been watching you for weeks.”

“That would explain a few things,” I tell him. “What are they curious about?”

Rand paused, lost in quiet contemplation. He was thinking hard, evidently trying to find the right words for microsian ideas. When he spoke, it was carefully. “They believe that our world is trying to destroy theirs, and they cannot understand why. “

1530 hours…

We stand on the observation deck of the Cyclops pilothouse, Captain and First Officer, side by side for the first time in the microscopic world. Across a short stretch of glassy still water, the city of the Microsians fills our view.

“Take us in, Mr. Emerson,” I tell Rand. He nods.

“Helm, turn to forty degrees left rudder, ahead one quarter,” says Randall Emerson.

“Aye, sir,” responds Gyro.

The engine order telegraph rings the one-quarter speed signal and the deck slips forward under my feet as MS Cyclops creeps toward her first port of call since leaving Duckweed Base.

My crew is reunited! My friend is alive! I am struck by a feeling of wholeness and well-being. “Look sharp everyone,” I tell them. It no surprise that everyone is smiling.


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Kurt Daudt Is Just Bad At His Job - Part 2

Category: Kurt Daudt
Posted: 01/24/17 01:00

by Dave Mindeman

Kurt Daudt continues to be bad at his job. He has sent a letter to Donald Trump to discuss health care and mining - forgetting that he should be discussing all of that with our current governor first.

During the campaign, Daudt railed against the idea of one party government. That we needed to keep the House GOP in power to act as a check on those Democrats.

Well, now that he has that check plus a bonus in the Senate, he now acts like it is his perogative to simply move ahead with his own version of one party government. It is as though Dayton does not exist and that the Governor's opinion no longer matters.

If Daudt would get his health care waiver, it would seem prudent to negotiate a little with Gov. Dayton, because the waiver will mean nothing if you can't get anything past a veto.

Daudt is like Trump in that he cannot get out of campaign mode and act like someone willing to govern. He has let the Speaker position go to his head.

His arrogance and disrespect for our governor is shameful and his grandiose ideas of a Republican agenda seem to ignore the idea that 90,000 people descended upon the Capitol to say, wait a minute, you better listen to the rest of us.

Daudt and the House Republicans seem to be assuming that they have a durable majority now. That they can ride this urban/rural divide for as long as they want. Don't be too sure about that - if you are going to make all these changes to health care, you could be depriving a lot of rural hospitals and residents of things they have to come to count on....and will notice when they are gone.

Yeah, Daudt, you seem to be lost in your own rhetoric and think that the GOP is going to be riding high for a long time.

Continue to believe that - the lofty placement makes the fall that much harder.
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With daughters 10, 12, and 14 I've been giving a lot of thought to how to help them build relationships with both genders while preparing for dating. In particular, I have a lovely 14-year-old daughter who is starting to notice boys, and they are starting to notice her too. You might even say there is a crush or two developing.

I don't want to put the kibosh on these feelings. I remember having them myself and I think they were not only great learning experiences but also a time to just have fun and not worry about the more serious dating stuff. On the other hand, we do have family and church guidelines and we definitely want to encourage our children to stay within those bounds as well.

So, I am asking for your thoughts. If you've passed this stage with some of your children, how did you navigate it? If your children are younger, is there anything you are doing now to prepare them for the “in between” time (I would call it ‘tween but they really are teens, just not dating teens yet).

What milestones do you have for certain ages? How do you handle that first crush? Do you just ignore it, talk about it, foster it in healthy ways?

When my kids were little I always thought I would know exactly what to do. Now that it is upon me, it's harder than I thought!

I would love to partake of your wisdom, fellow Mormon Mommas (and dads too!)


text:
MT track-&-field, Coach Hayes confident in team’s abilities

Photo by Brent Beerends / MT Athletics

Middle Tennessee Track and Field has been nothing short of spectacular this season. The team has routinely set personal and school records across the board throughout the season. Earlier this week, two athletes were recognized as Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week. Multiple athletes on this year’s team ranked high in the conference and in the nation. The athletes are all over the field, ranging from the long jump to the distance runners.

Coach Dean Hayes has been coaching at Middle Tennessee for over 50 years. He has done a remarkable job leading the team this season, but admits that there are also a couple of upperclassmen that are helping guide this team.

“Eliud Rutto is a senior. He’s played ever since he’s been a freshman. (The team) looks up to him because he’s a little older. He’s been through the program and has leadership qualities from his time in the Army,” Coach Hayes said. “Janet (Amponsah) is also a big help. She’s also been around the program for years and the players look up to her too.”

Coach Hayes was quick to point to the talented athletes who have helped the team enjoy so much success this season.

“We have quite a few athletes ranked in the top 25 in the nation. When you have so many, they get confident,” Coach Hayes said. “Each one of the athletes wants to perform better than the other. They feed off of each other and it makes a big difference.”

MTSU will be one of the teams to look out for in the Conference-USA Championship. Coach Hayes knows that it going to take a full team effort to win a conference title.

“We are going to get a lot of points in the distance races. So what can we get in the sprints? A lot of it is going to be what the other people do,” Coach Hayes said. “We have one high jumper. We have one triple jumper. It is going to come down to the events where we have one person as opposed to the races where we have two or three good runners competing,”

The Blue Raiders look to have a good showing on Saturday as they host their annual invitational. The field events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. The races are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Follow MTSU Track-and-Field beat writer Jonathan Clark (@JonDemetries) on Twitter for more coverage.

For more sports stories, follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on Twitter and Periscope at @Sidelines_Sport.

To contact Sports Editor Tyler Lamb (@Tlamb35), email

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    February 3, 2017

    Great read!

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text:
Ratings: Lukaku MOTM in Huddersfield victory; Mata did well too

Manchester United beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday evening. It was Romelu Lukaku who scored both goals – the first in the third minute of the match, the second ten minutes into the second half. Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez assisted the goals. United could have scored another with Mata finding the back of the net at the end of the first half but VAR ruled it out.

Key Moments:

3′ Juan Mata found some space and passed a well-weighted ball to Romelu Lukaku, who beat his man, brushing him aside with ease, firing his shot into the corner of the net. United were 1-0 to the good inside three minutes.

45′ Juan Mata rolled the ball into the back of the net, which was empty after rounding Jonas Lossl. The linesman did not raise his flag but after a minute or so a VAR decision was made and the goal was disallowed as Mata’s knee was offside.

45+4′ Alexis Sanchez won a free-kick for United which resulted in Nemanja Matic volleying the ball into the back of the net – but the goal was the second in a few minutes to be ruled for offside.

55′ Romelu Lukaku scored his second goal of the game and his 21st goal of the season. Alexis Sanchez threaded a superb ball through to the Belgian, who kept his cool and slotted his shot past the Huddersfield goalkeeper.

90+3′ Eric Bailly made his long-awaited return to action after four months out of the game, replacing Romelu Lukaku but only having one touch of the ball, which is not really a problem. The main thing being Jose Mourinho has another defensive option as the UEFA Champions League returns on Wednesday.

Man of the Match: Romelu Lukaku

In a week where so-called United supporters were calling for Romelu Lukaku to be benched, sold even sacked, on social media anyway, the Belgian showed his class yet again to score a brace to see United earn a place in the quarter-finals of the Emirates FA Cup this season. Lukaku did not have the best of games early on, but when it mattered he broke forward twice to score the much-needed goals.

Lukaku has now scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, the same amount of goals as Alvaro Morata and Alexandre Lacazette combined. Lukaku has been a decent goalscorer this season as United have improved severely with him and other players this season. The media will tell you different though as United have not improved and are still rubbish. Now is the time to support your team.

Match Statistics:

Manchester United

22 Sergio Romero

The Argentinian had a few moments which were quite nervy early in the first half. Kept a clean sheet though and had little to do for much of the game.

18 Ashley Young

The player did not break forward as much as Valencia does. Not sure he's what Mourinho should be utilising after this season. United will have a better option in Fosu-Mensah. Played a good role in breaking forward for Mata's disallowed VAR goal.

2 Victor Lindelof

The Swedish defender looked nervous but he last played some time ago. He's a ball playing defender and needs to get more time to build his confidence. Could partner Bailly well and together they could be just what United need.

Chris Smalling

Played a lot better than he did against Newcastle last weekend. Put in a few important interventions. The back four seemed very nervy, which needs to change.

23 Luke Shaw

Huddersfield made a lot of their changes through Shaw's position. Needs to play much better to cement his place in United's defence. He's the best left-back United have (the only left-back even). Should play ahead of Young.

31 Nemanja Matic

The Serbian's passing was not the greatest but he did what was needed throughout the match. Could probably do with a rest but with Sevilla and Chelsea coming up, it may not be in the next week.

16 Michael Carrick

A decent match by the club captain. Found his teammates with passes but United lacked some fluidity which Carrick will not be happy with.

39 Scott McTominay

The Academy graduate worked hard and seemed up for this challenge. After Lukaku's opening goal, he seemed to want to get stuck into the match again, cutting the celebration short. He has the world at his feet but needs to find consistency to keep a permanent place in this team.

8 Juan Mata

Played the ball to assist Lukaku's opener with a sublime ball. Scored a great second goal, but because of his patela, it was ruled offside by VAR, somewhat controversially.

Romelu Lukaku

Man of the Match. His positioning before each goal was great. Scored his 20th and 21st goal for United this season - the same as Morata and Lacazette combined. Some United fans wanted him sold last weekend. The guy is class.

Alexis Sanchez

rIt was a quiet first half for Sanchez and he left Shaw exposed at times, which is why Huddersfield were attacking on that side of the pitch. Had a better second half and played the ball for Lukaku's second goal.

9 Anthony Martial

Replaced Sanchez 76'. Had a cameo. I think he will start against Sevilla on Wednesday. Got forward and tried to stretch Huddersfield but the game was already won before the substitutions.

14 Jesse Lingard

Replaced Mata 80'. Came on for the last ten minutes. Did not change the gave but got involved.

3 Eric Bailly

Replaced Lukaku 90+3'. Came on late replacing the Belgian who scored a brace in the match. Touched the ball once but his return means a lot more than his cameo this evening.

Goals: Romelu Lukaku 3′, 55′

Assists: Juan Mata 3′, Alexis Sanchez 55′

Manchester United: Romero; Young, Lindelof, Smalling, Shaw; Matic, Carrick, McTominay; Mata (Lingard 80′), Lukaku (Bailly 90+3), Sanchez (Martial 76′)

Substitutes Not Used: Pereira; Darmian; Gomes, Hamilton

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February 3, 2018

Manchester United beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. It was a goalless first half with United breaking the deadlock i… Read more

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When Luke Shaw joined Manchester United he was coming off the back of making his international debut at the World Cup and he became the world’s most expensive teenager … Read more

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Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United are two names that have been linked my a lot of speculation since last summer. During the summer transfer window, the Portuguese mi… Read more

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text:
Why must propane cylinders be stored in an upright position?
Propane cylinders have a safety valve that prevents them from bursting in case of a fire. In order for the valve to work properly, the cylinder must be kept in an upright position both during use and storage.

How do I know how much gas is left in a propane cylinder?
You will find out how much gas is left in the cylinder by weighing the cylinder. The cylinder is marked with the cylinder’s own weight, i.e. the tare weight. This is subtracted from the total weight. The difference is the amount of gas remaining in the cylinder. Composite cylinders are transparent, so you will be able to simply see how much gas remains in the cylinder.

How much propane does 1 kW equal?
One kilogramme of propane contains 12.8 kWh of energy. 1 kW is 78.125 g of propane per hour.

Can I keep propane cylinders in outdoor storage during the winter?
Yes, you can. Propane only freezes when the temperature reaches -187 °C.

Where can I exchange the aluminium cylinders?
At any AGA service point selling industrial gases. Find your nearest sales outlet using the Dealer Finder.

Why isn’t there a refundable deposit on propane cylinders?
In accordance with public authority rules and regulations, the ownership of a propane cylinder is transferred in full to the consumer at the point of purchase. There is therefore no refundable deposit on the cylinders and they will not be redeemed. Check the price of propane cylinders with an AGA dealer.

Can I transport propane cylinders in my own car?
You can transport propane cylinders in your car as long as the cylinders are kept in an upright position and they are well secured, for example, with a strap.

Why is propane more expensive in composite cylinders than in steel cylinders?
The purchase price of a composite cylinder is several times that of a steel or aluminium cylinder. In addition, composite cylinders are more expensive to fill and maintain. The higher purchase and maintenance costs are partly included in the price of the actual cylinder and partly in the price of the gas. Composite cylinders have, however, many advantages over steel cylinders: they weigh only about half as much as those made of steel, and they are transparent allowing you to see at a glance how much gas you have left.

Can I store propane underneath the kitchen sink?
Propane cylinders should be primarily stored outdoors, but they may also be stored in other well-ventilated areas.

How can I flavour the carbonated water?
AQVIA flavours are available in soda and cider concentrates. All AQVIA flavours are made from natural ingredients, without artificial sweeteners. You can also make your own drink mixes - Try, for example, a slice of lime, lemon or cucumber. Check the current selection on the AQVIA Drink Concentrates page.

Where can I buy flavours for my AQVIA machine?
Many dealers selling AQVIA carbonated water machines also sell AQVIA flavours. Find your nearest dealer here.

The base plate of the AQVIA PET bottles sometimes comes loose. Is this normal?
That’s the way it’s meant to be. The base plate of the PET bottles is detachable, making the bottles easier to clean.

Can I wash the PET bottles in the dishwasher?
No. If you wash the bottles in the dishwasher, they will lose their shape. PET bottles only withstand temperatures of up to 40 °C, and therefore dishwasher temperatures are too high for them.

Should I add the flavours into the PET bottle before I carbonate the water?
No. The flavours are always added after the water has been carbonated.


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Spring is in the House | Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours

Today I’m so excited to be teaming up with Lindsay from White Buffalo Styling Company (and lot of other CRAZY talented bloggers) for the Spring edition of Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours. If you’re coming over from Sarah M. Dorsey’s beautiful home, welcome! For those who are new here, I live in Utah, where we’ve had ridiculously early spring weather (I’m not complaining), so Spring has been in full swing around our house for about a month now (see: lots of yard work) and today I’m going to take you on a little tour of some of the touches of spring around here–and we’ll be heavy on photos, light on commentary today ;)

Spring around here basically means clearing out the dark colors and heavy textures and swapping them for lots of green, lots of flowers (mostly fake because I kill things), and color, color, color–of course.

spring entryway

In the entryway, I basically just simplified. A cool thrifted bowl I found, filled with moss and other fillers–of course there are disco balls, and some cool old maps from my grandpa’s days in the Forest Service that I found in my grandparents’ basement.

decorative wood bowl in the entryway

After a recent little change up, one of my favorite furniture pieces moved over by our back door and is filled with lots of spring color and goodness. I made a wreath by clipping some branches off of one of my bushes and tying them to an embroidery hoop. It’s a little wonky, but imperfection means character around here.

spring decorating ideas

spring flower arrangement

More simplifying in the dining room with a few moss balls on a wood tray, and pom poms just because I love them and they make me happy.spring dining room

More greens on the dining room shelf that serves as my mantel. I got this sweet little boxwood planter on the dollar aisle at Target. Sadly they only had one left when I got to them, otherwise they’d be all over the house. And you can find that fabulous egg print here (one of my new favorite places for printables).

spring mantel

spring mantel decorations

The living room got a pretty big update a couple of months ago, so the biggest change in there was swapping out the fur on the coffee table for something lighter. (Little tip: rugs make great coffee table runners.)

The dog wasn’t really feeling too happy about being kicked out of her spot for photos, so meet Winslow everyone–the dog that I love dearly and makes me want to rip my hair out EVERY. DAY.

spring living room

coffee table styling

living room

And finally, the yard! Our backyard has been a major source of embarrassment and shame for me, but we’ve spent the last few weekends working our behinds off to kick it into shape! We’ve made lots of progress and spent all last weekend out by the fire, roasting marshmallows.

patio ideas

This is what it looked like three days ago when we were basking in 70 degree weather…simple back yard patio
…and this is what it looked like this afternoon (Wednesday). Ahhh, reality! Luckily, true to Utah form, we’re supposed to be back to 70’s by this weekend. e2_DSC0631

And that’s Spring at our house!! But don’t stop here. Be sure to head over to House Seven for more beautiful inspiration! And if you want even more, all of the stops on the tour are listed below.

Sarah M. Dorsey
My Fabuless Life (that’s me)
House Seven
Dwellings by Devore

Inspired by Charm
Dream Green DIY
Primitive & Proper
Dimples and Tangles
Claire Brody
The Blissful Bee

  1. Terri says

    I enjoy your decor. I’m wondering where you got the sign that says “Sometimes love believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast”. Very sweet.

  2. says

    You have a lovely home and I of course love the doggie. BUT, the snow part…I’m not liking that too much. I’m heading to SNAP next Wednesday, I hope it’s gone by then..ha will you be there? Hope I get to meet you…xo

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naga grappling

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Thank you for competing in the 2018 NorCal (San Jose) Grappling Championship.

Please check the NAGA calendar for our future events HERE for the latest listing of upcoming events.

Farmington, UT Sept 22, 2018

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Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s daughter Saumu Mbuvi has defended her father’s honour against allegations that he is corrupt.

Speaking to Radio Jambo this week, Saumu said the worst troll about her father is being told that he is a narcotics trafficker. She acknowledged that she gets affected by the bad things people associate her father with.

“It does affect me because they don’t know what kind of a person my dad is. My dad helps a lot in this country. Saying that he is a thief hurts me,” she said.

Ms Mbuvi attributed Sonko’s success to hard work and determination.

“I know he has gone through so much to be where he is,” she told Massawe.

On matters joining politics, Saumu said her current priorities lie elsewhere. “Right now I can’t compete for leadership because I want to empower young girls. I don’t want to rush into politics,” she said.

She disclosed that she will be starting a children’s home in Malindi by June next year.

Saumu’s parting shot to people who speak ill of her and family: “They should look for something else to do.”

She noted: “Being a governor’s daughter does not mean we don’t make mistakes. We all make mistakes.”

View this post on Instagram

I have always liked my people abit damaged .A bit rough around the edges..A bit difficult to stereotype.A bit stranger than normal crowd.I like people whose eyes tell stories and whose smiles have fought through wars.If you’re perfect, chances are, we aren’t going to get on.If you’re one of the cool kids, chances are, you won’t like me.You see, what I want is authentic. What I want to see is your purity, I want to see the way you wear your scars, I want to see how brave you are with you vulnerability, how emotionally naked do you let the world see you. Yours damage may not be beautiful, but it has made you exquisite. It makes you original, different – and one of my kind of people because people like you are the most incredible things about this world.

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Our Jubilee Friendship Club normally meets on Thursdays but, due to the Coronavirus, it is not meeting at the moment.

We’ve left the information below so you can see when it will meet when it re-opens.

Watch this space for more information as it unfolds.

Jubilee Friendship Club (When it re-opens)

The Jubilee Friendship Club at New Life Church normally meets on Thursday mornings in the Alan Fletcher Hall at Offington Park Methodist Church between 10 am and 12.30 pm. We enjoy a range of activities, guest speakers and occasional outings.

Refreshments are provided and it’s the ideal place to make new friends, so you won’t be on your own for very long!


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Best Business Newspaper

Liquid Metal Market Comprehensive Study by Leading Players- Liquidmetal, EONTEC

 Breaking News
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Liquid Metal Market Comprehensive Study by Leading Players- Liquidmetal, EONTEC

October 21
09:54 2019
Liquid Metal Market Comprehensive Study by Leading Players- Liquidmetal, EONTEC

Liquid Metal Market
Stay up-to-date with Liquid Metal Market research offered by HTF MI. Check how key trends and emerging drivers are shaping this industry growth.

Latest Strategic Study Released on Global Liquid Metal Market with forecast till 2025, the report comprises of historical data and estimation of the Global Liquid Metal Market. The following Industry is shown to progress with a noteworthy rise in the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) during the forecast period owing to various factors driving the market. Some of the key players mentioned in this research are Liquidmetal, EONTEC.

Browse TOC and Charts and Tables ofGlobal Liquid Metal Market Research Report available at:

Company Profiles Liquidmetal, EONTEC
Global Liquid MetalMarket by Types: Magnesium Alloy, Others

Rapid Growth Factors
In addition, the market is growing at a fast pace and the report shows us that there are a couple of key factors behind that. The most important factor that’s helping the market grow faster than usual is the tough competition.

Business Strategies
Key strategies in theGlobal Liquid Metal Market that includes product developments, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, etc discussed in this report. The potential of this enterprise section has been rigorously investigated in conjunction with main market challenges.

Ask for Sample ofGlobal Liquid Metal Market @

Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the Report:
1) What all companies are currently profiled in the report?
The given are the key players that currently projected in the report Liquidmetal, EONTEC
** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc.

2) Can we add or mapped other company as per our need?
Yes, we can add or mapped other company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey.
** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Up to 3 players can be added at no added cost.
3) What all regional segmentation covered? Can specific country of interest be added?
Currently, research report gives special attention and focus on following regions:
North America Country (United States, Canada), South America, Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea, Southeast Asian Countries), Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy) & Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)
** One country of specific interest can be included at no added cost. For inclusion of more regional segment quote may vary.

4) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible?
Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be shared with our research before giving final confirmation to client.
** Depending upon the requirement the deliverable time and quote will vary.

Have any Query Regarding this Report? Contact us at:

Major Highlights of TOC:
Chapter One: GlobalGlobal Liquid Metal Market Industry Overview
1.1Global Liquid Metal Industry
1.1.1 Overview
1.1.2 Products of Major Companies
1.2Global Liquid Metal Market Segment
1.2.1 Industry Chain
1.2.2 Consumer Distribution
1.3 Price & Cost Overview

Chapter Two: GlobalGlobal Liquid Metal Market Demand Side Analysis
2.1 Segment Overview By Application
2.1.3 Other
2.2Global Liquid Metal Market Size by Demand
2.3Global Liquid Metal Market Forecast by Demand

Chapter Three:Global Liquid Metal Market by Type
3.1 By Type {Magnesium Alloy, Others}
3.1.1 TYPE 1
3.1.2 TYPE 2
3.2Global Liquid Metal Market Size by Type
3.3Global Liquid Metal Market Forecast by Type

Chapter Four: Major Region ofGlobal Liquid Metal
4.1Global Liquid Metal Sales
4.2Global Liquid Metal Revenue & market share

Chapter Five: Major Companies List

Chapter Six: Conclusion

Buy Full Copy Global Liquid Metal Report 2018 @

The generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis. The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, Porter’s Five Analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on.

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia or Oceania [Australia and New Zealand].

Media Contact
Company Name: HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited
Contact Person: Craig Francis
Email: Send Email
Phone: 2063171218
Address:Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road
City: Edison
State: New Jersey
Country: United States


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Boise News Now Provides Three Things to Know About Regarding the Purpose of Bug Tracking Software

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  • No posts were found Provides Three Things to Know About Regarding the Purpose of Bug Tracking Software

September 21
00:48 2019 Provides Three Things to Know About Regarding the Purpose of Bug Tracking Software

Deploying a new website with a new system for your employees to use and other technical projects can be a challenge for everyone involved. Aside from making sure the development meets the requirements of the requestors, developers are often on a tight delivery schedule that can easily compromise the success of the launch date. Whatever the case, there is only so much any manual EFFI testing that can be done to find all of the bugs in the system before it goes live. Keeping this in mind, here are 3 things that you should know about the purpose of bug tracking software.

1. What is a Bug?

With any system that goes in, bugs can always be found at any point in time. This is one of the primary reasons why many of today’s business owners are taking advantage of software that allows bugs to be identified quickly. Also, before going forward, one of the first things people like to know is what is a bug. In the world of development and system design, a bug is usually defined as any type of issue that’s found in the design, code, specs, or features of an application. You can discover more here on what is categorized as a bug.

2. How to Prevent Design and Code Issues from Going in Live

According to, to prevent these bugs from causing unnecessary problems to the user, customer, and the company, it is very important that these bugs are found and corrected before these applications are implemented in a live user environment. So, companies are using these bug tracking system as a staple in the life cycle of development for all of their projects. These systems are used to ensure the launch of the system is not delivered on time but also the highest quality possible. In fact, according to the latest news on these types of systems, Bug Tracking Software Market is projected to growing at a CAGR of 13.60% from 2019 to 2026.

3. Increases the Return on Investment

When problems are identified in development, the company saves money on development, which increases the overall return on investment. For instance, whenever a system goes in without problems, the development team will be free to work on other projects that may be needed right away. Simply put, all of the IT resources that were used to complete the older project can be transferred to new development for a different system. On the other hand, if problems are found after the system has been launched, this is re-work that will need to be completed. This re-work will take time and additional money to correct and re-implement the enhancement. This is one of the primary reasons why the bug tracker software is used in the earliest stages of system development.

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Why Ought To Choose Thermal Wear?

Winter is around the corner have you all prepared for it. During this season you all experience teeth shivering cold temperature. In this condition, you definitely need to cover your body from getting cold. So use the rightful winter wear. Amongst various numbers of winter wear thermal wear is the superb one. It helps the wearer in many ways. Especially it offers a stylish look to the wearer without satisfying your fashionable codes. You can purchase thermal wear for ladies as well as mens to protect from cold. It is always first in the list of winter wear. This specific winter wear has various numbers of properties so you will be completely saved from below zero degree temperature as well.

Why thermals?

Thermal is the best winter wear that will help you protect from even extreme winter climate. It has water-resistant property thus no way for moisture in the body. When you choose this winter wear then no winter hurdles will come on your way. The insulation property is the most notable one that let you free from shivering cold. You always feel warmth in any cold temperature condition. Without concerning about the climatic condition range you can wear this winter wear and it opts you perfectly. Alongside the anti-cold property of this winter, wear keep you away from fatal conditions such as fever, cold, and many more.

In winter season you all get frustrated by these things, right? Wearing thermal will leave you free from all these issues. You feel safe since thermal wear stands against even extreme cold winter. You can choose your desirable thermal wear since it is available in different range. Once you wear thermal then you start to sense warmth and complete protection from the cold climate.

Are there types in thermal wear?

Of course, thermal wear is divided into two types they are upper and lower wear. You can warmth both upper and lower part of the body. Thus no cold will come outside and the thermal inside the body restrict the entry of cold completely. Likewise, thermal wear gets differ. Plus thermal wear is wearer friendly one you can walk, run and be in the way you want once after wearing this winter wear. The thermal material is smooth by nature and it is stretchable as well. So you won’t have discomfort at the same time it is available for both men and women. So regardless of the age and then the gender you can purchase and wear thermal.

You can prefer thermal on both inside and out. Mobility and less weight property allow the wearer to have a comfortable wearing experience. When you choose winter innerwear for mens you can feel a huge difference. Since thermal is made from special fabric so it makes you comfortable so it won’t match with the normal wear. If you want several numbers of brands then go for online shopping so you can easily check out the range and then purchase easily.

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