#Bledsoe County News

[svalleynow]

Open House at Fall Creek Falls Will Address Restoration Plans

Fall Creek Falls State Park will host an open house on Thursday, May 9, to share information with the community about a project at the park’s scenic loop. Last year, thousands of trees were downed by storms, creating hazards within the park and the gorge. Work to remove the fallen trees will begin this summer and continue into the fall. Park leadership wants to inform attendees about the plan at…

[mymtwp]

iNWS Alert

New event. Severe Thunderstorm Warning from 5/6/2024 5:34 PM to 6:00 PM CDT for Bledsoe County, TN. More information.

[nostalgic-woodwind]

Auctober Month: Day 2 (Info Dumping)

I like learning about tornadoes. They have been a passion of mine from time to time ever since I was a kid. I even made a tornado encyclopedia for my book arts class in college.

I also wanna recommend some really good YouTube channels that talk about tornadoes: Carly Anna WX, Alferia (he also covers hurricanes and derechos), Gabe Pena (he made a good documentary about the Greensburg, KS EF5 tornado), Tornado Forensics, Disaster Documentaries (look up “Disaster Documentaries April 27”).

Also, don’t use Wikipedia as a source for citations.

Oh! A few things I forgot to mention: During the 2011 Super Outbreak, there were a few EF4 tornadoes in the state of Tennessee (Blount County EF4 tornado, Sequatchie-Bledsoe-Rhea Counties EF4 tornado) (National Weather Service). Also, an EF4 tornado hit the Elmore, Tallapoosa, and Chamber counties in Alabama (National Weather Service).

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Auctober Challenge hosted by @autiebiographical

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Sources Cited:

Disaster Documentaries (https://youtu.be/2jQSym_C4Tc)

National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/mrx/april272011outbreak)

National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/bmx/event_04272011lakemartin)

On This Day (https://www.onthisday.com/date/1991/april/26)

Tornado Talk (https://www.tornadotalk.com/anchor-okolona-chapel-grove-wren-ms-ef3-tornado-april-27-2011/)

KAIT 8 News (https://www.kait8.com/2022/07/19/breakdown-what-is-tornado-emergency-how-it-differs-tornado-warning/)

[rockislandadultreads]

Transport Yourself into Fearie Land: book recs

The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

No one knows where the Tufa came from, or how they ended up in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, yet when the first Europeans arrived, they were already there. Dark-haired, enigmatic, and suspicious of outsiders, the Tufa live quiet lives in the hills and valleys of Cloud County. While their origins may be lost to history, there are clues in their music, hints of their true nature buried in the songs they have passed down for generations. Private Bronwyn Hyatt returns from Iraq wounded in body and in spirit, only to face the very things that drove her away in the first place: her family, her obligations to the Tufa, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend. But more trouble lurks in the mountains and hollows of her childhood home. Cryptic omens warn of impending tragedy, and a restless "haint" lurks nearby, waiting to reveal Bronwyn's darkest secrets. Worst of all, Bronwyn has lost touch with the music that was once a vital part of her identity. With death stalking her family, Bronwyn will need to summon the strength to take her place among the true Tufa and once again fly on the night winds…

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue

Inspired by the W.B. Yeats poem that tempts a child from home to the waters and the wild, The Stolen Child is a modern fairy tale narrated by the child Henry Day and his double. On a summer night, Henry Day runs away from home and hides in a hollow tree. There he is taken by the changelings—an unaging tribe of wild children who live in darkness and in secret. They spirit him away, name him Aniday, and make him one of their own. Stuck forever as a child, Aniday grows in spirit, struggling to remember the life and family he left behind. He also seeks to understand and fit in this shadow land, as modern life encroaches upon both myth and nature. In his place, the changelings leave a double, a boy who steals Henry’s life in the world. This new Henry Day must adjust to a modern culture while hiding his true identity from the Day family. But he can’t hide his extraordinary talent for the piano (a skill the true Henry never displayed), and his dazzling performances prompt his father to suspect that the son he has raised is an imposter. As he ages the new Henry Day becomes haunted by vague but persistent memories of life in another time and place, of a German piano teacher and his prodigy. Of a time when he, too, had been a stolen child. Both Henry and Aniday obsessively search for who they once were before they changed places in the world. The Stolen Child is a classic tale of leaving childhood and the search for identity. With just the right mix of fantasy and realism, Keith Donohue has created a bedtime story for adults and a literary fable of remarkable depth and strange delights.

The Last Days of Magic by Mark Tompkins

What became of magic in the world? Who needed to do away with it, and for what reasons? Drawing on myth, legend, fairy tales, and Biblical mysteries, The Last Days of Magic brilliantly imagines answers to these questions, sweeping us back to a world where humans and magical beings co-exist as they had for centuries. Aisling, a goddess in human form, was born to rule both domains and—with her twin, Anya—unite the Celts with the powerful faeries of the Middle Kingdom. But within medieval Ireland interests are divided, and far from its shores greater forces are mustering. Both England and Rome have a stake in driving magic from the Emerald Isle. Jordan, the Vatican commander tasked with vanquishing the remnants of otherworldly creatures from a disenchanted Europe, has built a career on such plots. But increasingly he finds himself torn between duty and his desire to understand the magic that has been forbidden. As kings prepare, exorcists gather, and divisions widen between the warring clans of Ireland, Aisling and Jordan must come to terms with powers given and withheld, while a world that can still foster magic hangs in the balance. Loyalties are tested, betrayals sown, and the coming war will have repercussions that ripple centuries later, in today’s world—and in particular for a young graduate student named Sara Hill. The Last Days of Magic introduces us to unforgettable characters who grapple with quests for power, human frailty, and the longing for knowledge that has been made taboo. Mark Tompkins has crafted a remarkable tale—a feat of world-building that poses astonishing and resonant answers to epic questions.

Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce

It is Christmas afternoon and Peter Martin gets an unexpected phone call from his parents, asking him to come round. It pulls him away from his wife and children and into a bewildering mystery. He arrives at his parents house and discovers that they have a visitor. His sister Tara. Not so unusual you might think, this is Christmas after all, a time when families get together. But twenty years ago Tara took a walk into the woods and never came back and as the years have gone by with no word from her the family have, unspoken, assumed that she was dead. Now she's back, tired, dirty, disheveled, but happy and full of stories about twenty years spent traveling the world, an epic odyssey taken on a whim. But her stories don't quite hang together and once she has cleaned herself up and got some sleep it becomes apparent that the intervening years have been very kind to Tara. She really does look no different from the young woman who walked out the door twenty years ago. Peter's parents are just delighted to have their little girl back, but Peter and his best friend Richie, Tara's one time boyfriend, are not so sure. Tara seems happy enough but there is something about her. A haunted, otherworldly quality. Some would say it's as if she's off with the fairies. And as the months go by Peter begins to suspect that the woods around their homes are not finished with Tara and his family...

[augusberkeley]

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[truecrimecrystals]

Karen Swift (44) went missing in Dyersburg, Tennessee on October 30th, 2011. The previous evening, Karen attended a Halloween party at a country club, but had left early to pick up one of her daughters from a sleepover. She then returned to her home where she lived with her two daughters and her husband, David Swift. Karen had recently filed for divorce from David, however the two still lived in the same house, but in separate rooms. David stated that he saw Karen around midnight that night, and then one last time the following morning. She has never been seen or heard from again after that.

Karen’s car was found abandoned later that day, just a short distance from her house. She was subsequently reported missing later that evening when she failed to return home. After initial investigations, a search party was formed for Karen on December 10th, 2011. It was during that search that Karen’s body was found underneath some leaves near Bledsoe Cemetery in Dyer County. Her death was classified as a homicide.

David has been a person of interest in Karen’s case since the get-go. Their marriage was obviously strained around the time of her disappearance, and he was also the last known person to have seen her. Despite this, David has never been arrested or charged with anything in relation to Karen’s murder. 

For years, further details surrounding Karen's case remained a mystery. Her autopsy was sealed after it was performed, so the public knew very few details about her death. Karen's case finally got a fresh set of eyes in 2018, when a private investigator named Helen Michele Cohen began to investigate the murder. HMC's investigation finally revealed Karen's cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. It was noted that Karen had significant injuries to her frontal and temporal lobes--which suggests that she was facing her attacker at the time she was struck. HMC's investigation revealed many other previously unknown detail about the case as well. These details have led to numerous new theories about Karen's murder.

[read more]

[mikeo56]

Scott County, Virginia...My Arrangement in Judge W. C. Fugate’s Court 

J. P. Bledsoe - Arresting Officer  

Les Bailey - Commonwealth Attorney 

The hearing begins as Prosecutor Bailey approaches Judge Fugate and as he does so Judge Fugate warns him not to place any paperwork on his desk. Bailey either does not hear Judge Fugate or he ignores him and places some paperwork on Judge Fugate’s desk.

Judge Fugate explodes and he screams at the top of his voice, “I told you not to put that on my desk!” Bailey retrieves his documents. Judge Fugate says further, “It is not a True Copy”.  Bailey retorts, “we can have one here in fifteen minutes”. Judge Fugate, literally ready to beat Baileys ass, shouts, “you should of had it when you walked in here!”

My attorney shouts, ”motion to strike!” and Judge Fugate almost breaks his gavel while screaming, “dismissed!” 

Baily and Bledsoe both leap to their feet, turn their backs to Judge Fugate, face their desk and shuffle paperwork, the same paperwork, repeatedly in abject humiliation. 

And I thought, “I told you so. I am no felon. I plead guilty to misdemeanors only, in Chattanooga.”

Attempting to prosecute someone, based on falsified evidence is “Malicious Prosecution” and “Fabrication of Evidence”, two felonies that Les Bailey and J P Bledsoe may have committed. (At a later date in Judge Ford Quillen’s court, while on the stand JP Bledsoe admitted to it.)

Could prosecutor Bailey and arresting officer Bledsoe actually have produced a “True Copy”, that is a legal document sworn by Hamilton County, Tennessee that states legally that I am a convicted felon out of Hamilton County, Tennessee? That is the big question.

I was in Hamilton County, Tennessee and in Judge Doug Myers chambers with my attorney, Rosemary Beverly and prosecutor, Gary Gerbowitz. Judge Myers told us my plea bargain was - “all felonies reduced to misdemeanors”.

Both Tennessee and Virginia have passed news laws concerning old Felony Conviction expungement. It would be nice if my Felonies disappeared as, at my age finding work is getting more and more difficult. I feel these claims that I am a felon are neither deserved nor earned.

[patriotsnet]

Are Any Republicans Running For Dallas Mayor

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/are-any-republicans-running-for-dallas-mayor/

Are Any Republicans Running For Dallas Mayor

Caitlyn Jenner Launches Bid For Calif Governor

RACE FOR NYC: the “urban Republican” running for mayor

Longtime Republican Caitlyn Jenner, the former Olympian and reality TV star, announced her bid for governor last week, pitching herself as a “compassionate disruptor” who will campaign on “solutions” and “providing a roadmap back to prosperity.”

“For the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people. Sacramento needs an honest leader with a clear vision,” Jenner said in a statement.

Jenner renounced President Donald Trump, but LGBTQ groups slammed her candidacy, citing her previous support for Trump, who they say worked to undo protections for the trans community.

“Make no mistake: we can’t wait to elect a #trans governor of California. But @Caitlyn_Jenner spent years telling the #LGBTQ+ community to trust Donald Trump. We saw how that turned out,” tweeted Equality California, a statewide nonprofit civil rights organization.

The General Election For City Council Will Be Held On Saturday May 1 2021 At Lake Dallas City Hall 212 Main Street Lake Dallas Texas No Election For Councilmembers Or Mayor Shall Be Held Except As May Be Required To Fill A Vacancy

A candidate must:

be a qualified voter of the City of Lake Dallas

be at least twenty-one years of age.

be a resident of the City of Lake Dallas for at least twelve months preceding the date of the election for filing an application for place on the ballot.

Shall not, after notice of any delinquency, be in arrears in the payment of any taxes or other liabilities due the city. In arrears is defined herein to mean that payment has not been received within ninety days from due date and has not been protested under the same provisions as provided by the Charter.

No candidate may file in a single city election for more than one office or place position as provided the Charter.

The City of Lake Dallas Mayor and Councilmember Election Schedule

2021- ;;; Councilmember Place1, Place 3 and Place 5

2022- ;;; Mayor, Councilmember Place 2 and Place 4

2023- ;;; No election unless to fill a vacancy

2024- ;;; Councilmember Place1, Place 3 and Place 5

2025- ;;; Mayor, Councilmember Place 2 and Place 4

2026- ;;; No Election unless to fill a vacancy

2027- ;;; Councilmember Place1, Place 3 and Place 5

2028- ;;; Mayor, Councilmember Place 2 and Place 4

2029- ;;; No Election unless to fill a vacancy

City Council of the City of Lake Dallas, Texas consist of a mayor and five councilmembers.

Forms and information for the 2021 City of Lake Dallas General Election will be available in the City Secretarys Office located at 212 Main Street, Lake Dallas, Texas at City Hall building.

Requirements For City Council Candidates

2021 Council Candidate Packet

The City of Mesquite will be conducting a General Election on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, to elect the positions of Mayor and Councilmembers representing Places 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.;The City Secretarys Office has prepared a candidates packet to assist interested residents in running for elected office.

Filing Period

The City Secretary will accept applications via email at or by mail ;to Sonja Land, City Secretary, City of Mesquite, 1515 North Galloway Avenue, Mesquite, TX, 75149 or in person at the George A. Venner, Sr., Municipal Center, 1515 North Galloway Avenue, Mesquite, Texas, 75149 during the following period:

Saturday, July 17, 2021, 8:00 a.m. – First day to file for office

Monday, August 16, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Last day to file for office

Voting Period

Monday, October 18, 2021 Early voting by personal appearance begins

Monday, October 18, 2021 Friday, October 22, 2021, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 23, 2021, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 24, 2021, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Monday, October 25, 2021 Wednesday, October 24, 2021, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Thursday October 28, 2021 Friday, October 29, 2021, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 29, 2021 Early Voting by personal appearance ends

Election Day

Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Also Check: How Many Republican Presidents Have Democrats Tried To Impeach

City Elections In Dallas Texas

Filing deadline: February 12, 2021 General election: May 1, 2021Runoff election: June 5, 2021 Election stats U.S. municipal elections, 2021 Submit

The city of Dallas, Texas, held general elections for city council on May 1, 2021. Eight of the 11 incumbents running for re-election won outright in the general election. Another three incumbents and three open-seat races advanced to a runoff election on June 5. The filing deadline for this election was February 12, 2021.

How To Vote When To Vote

How can you vote by mail?

The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is April 20. Here’s how you do that.

To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must be one of the following:

65 years or older

sick or disabled

out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance

confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

What do you need to vote in person?

VoteTexas.gov has everything you need to know about what to bring to vote in person.

One of seven forms of ID will get you into a voting booth:

Texas driver’s license

Texas election identification certificate issued by the Department of Public Safety

Texas personal ID card issued by DPS

Texas handgun license issued by DPS

U.S. citizenship certificate containing your photograph

U.S. military ID card containing your photograph

U.S. passport, book or card

What if you don’t have one of the seven acceptable forms of voter ID?

The state lists other forms of identification, like a utility bill or birth certificate, that you can use to vote if you don’t “possess an acceptable form of photo identification, and cannot reasonably obtain one.”

In addition to presenting that secondary form of ID, you’ll also need to fill out a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” form.

What if you’re a voter with special needs?

Recommended Reading: Obama Is Republican

Find Your Filing Period And Election Type

Type your county into the search field below to narrow in on the contest, filing period, and election type. The filing periods for the 2021 municipal elections have passed.

The filing periods for municipal elections postponed until 2022 will depend;on;how quickly the municipality can adopt a new redistricting plan. We will capture the updates here as they become available. See Running for Municipal Office;for more details.

Find;election dates by contest and absentee voting availability;at the 2021 Municipal Voter Tool.;For details about election types, see;Types of Elections: Municipal Elections.;

Mobile viewers: Rotate your phone or click the green plus sign to expand and display more information.

Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson Preparing To Run For Another Term In Congress

10:26 PM on Apr 20, 2017 CDT

After thoughts of retirement, U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson is instead preparing to run for re-election.

Two people;close to her told The Dallas Morning News;that the Dallas Democrat is close to announcing she’ll seek one more two-year term, dousing speculation that she will retire as the representative for;District 30 when her term ends Dec. 31,;2018.

Aides are working on a campaign roll-out, and Johnson is about to step up her fundraising. She has two events in Washington, on May 18 and May 23. Her team also is planning a series of receptions in Dallas.

An official campaign announcement is expected within;10 days.

Why another term?

Johnson, 81, has been concerned about protecting her southern Dallas district and the rest of North Texas from Republican redistricting plans. The seemingly never-ending redistricting fight is being played out on several fronts in federal court.

Gary Bledsoe, a lawyer who has represented Johnson in;redistricting cases, said her testimony and leadership have;been invaluable in protecting minority voters.

On Thursday, a federal panel in San Antonio upheld a finding that the 2011 Texas House map was drawn with the intent to dilute minority votes. Earlier this year, the panel said the same congressional boundaries from that map discriminated against minority voters.

Johnson has been in Congress since 1993. Over her long career, she also has been a state senator and state House member.

Read Also: How Many States Are Controlled By Republicans

John Muns Announces Plans To Run For Mayor Of Plano

John Muns, chairman of the Plano Planning & Zoning Commission, announced his intention to run for mayor in 2021 at an Oct. 19 meeting.

Now is the chance to help your local community succeed. Become a Patron by contributing to Community Impact Newspaper and gain daily insight into what’s happening in your own backyard. Thank you for reading and supporting community journalism.

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Friend & Foe to shutter after one year of business in Plano

Captain Car Wash coming to Plano after council approves zoning request

The Plano Planning and Zoning Commission said the car wash does not align with the Spring Creekwalk master plan and recommended council deny the zoning request, according to city documents.

Black Rifle Coffee Company shop under construction in Plano

According to the Black Rifle Coffee Company website, the new coffee shop will offer a full espresso bar, 15 different blends of coffee, outdoor seating, a drive-thru, and grab-and-go food options.

A pilot project in the corridor between I-635 and SH 121 will evaluate the effectiveness of allowing solo drivers to use the lanes while also providing an incentive to cars with more than one occupant, according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

List Of Mayors Of The 50 Largest Cities In The United States

GOP flips Texas town that voted for Biden, Clinton

This is a list of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States, are ordered the estimated populations as of the 2020 Census. These 50 cities have a combined population of 49.6 million, or 15% of the national population. Louisville, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Nashville, and Honolulu have consolidated city-county governments where the mayor is elected by residents of the entire county not just that of the main city; in these cases the population and respective rank are for the county.

In some states, mayors are officially elected on a nonpartisan basis; however, their party affiliation or preference is generally known, and where it is known it is shown in the list below.

The breakdown of mayoral political parties is 36 Democrats, 11 Republicans, and 3 Independents .

Don’t Miss: Are Republicans Or Democrats More Educated

Abortion Rights Drinking Age Drugs And More

At present, Weld is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Self-described as strongly pro-choice when it comes to abortion rights, he is also said to believe that drug use should not be considered a criminal offense. He feels the drinking age should be lowered but has not stated at what age it should be set.;

When it comes to matters of the military, Weld also draws a conservative line. He feels that America should withdraw its troops from foreign engagements and that the countrys efforts and resources should be refocused on domestic issues, in order to prosper.;According to Aljhazeera.com, Weld previously supported bans on assault weapons in the US.

The Races In All 14 Districts Are Contested And Three Seats Will Be Open Because Incumbents Have Hit Term Limits The General Election Will Be May 1

By Everton Bailey Jr.

5:36 PM on Feb 12, 2021 CST

to remove the name of one candidate in the District 2 race who ended their campaign after qualifying for the ballot.

More than 50 names will appear on the May 1 ballot for the Dallas City Council, the most in a year without a mayoral race since residents approved expanding the council to 15 members in 1990.

The races are contested in all 14 council districts, including three in which the seat is open because the incumbents has hit the term limit.

Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano in District 2 and council members Lee Kleinman in District 11 and Jennifer Staubach Gates in District 13 are ineligible to run after serving four consecutive two-year terms.

The 11 other council incumbents are all seeking reelection. Mayor Eric Johnson will not appear on the ballot because he is in the midst of his first four-year term after being elected in June 2019. His term ends in 2023 and he has not announced whether hell seek reelection then.

Friday was the last day candidates could file for a spot on the May ballot. Candidates have until next Friday to withdraw.

Early voting will be April 19-27.

In district races in which no candidate gets 50% of the votes cast, the top two finishers will advance to a June 5 runoff. Election winners will be sworn in June 14.

Here are the council candidates by district, in alphabetical order. The list has only names reported by the city as qualifying for the ballot as of 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

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Mayoral Election In Dallas Texas

Filing deadline: February 15, 2019 General election: May 4, 2019Runoff election: June 8, 2019 Election stats Offices up: Mayor, City council Total seats up: 15 ” rel=”nofollow”>click here for other city elections) Election type: Nonpartisan U.S. municipal elections, 2019 Submit

State Rep. Eric Johnson defeated Dallas City Councilman Scott Griggs in a June 8 nonpartisan runoff election for mayor of Dallas, Texas. This was an open-seat race; incumbent Mike Rawlings , in office since 2011, was prevented by term limits from seeking re-election.

Johnson said he had a record of bringing people together across party and rural/urban divides in the state House, where he’d served since 2010, and that he was the candidate to mend divisiveness on the Dallas City Council. He said he had worked to increase affordable housing and for full-day pre-K during his time as a state legislator.

Griggs said he had a notable record of accomplishments on the city council, where he served since 2011. He listed among his accomplishments his role in passing salary increases for police officers and economic growth in the North Oak Cliff neighborhood he represented.

Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the U.S., with a population of 1.3 million. Johnson represented District 100 in the state House, which covers portions of Dallas and Mesquite and had about 161,000 residents as of the 2010 census. Griggs represented District 1 on the city council, which had around 84,000 residents as of 2011.

Candidate

Republican Candidates Running For The Us 2020 Election

Bill Weld was married twice and has five children.

Weld ran for vice-president as a Libertarian on the Gary Johnson ticket in the 2016 presidential election.

As a conservative, Weld is strongly pro-choice on abortion issues.

The presidential race is on and the candidates are being whittled down to the very few. Who is running on the Republican side? Current President Donald Trump is going for re-election, and the only candidate now challenging him for election as president of the US this coming November 3rd, 2020 is Bill Weld, a former Massachusetts governor.

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Why Both Parties Are So Fixated On A Nonpartisan Texas Mayors Race

Is fast-growing Fort Worth going the way of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio?

Mattie Parker, left, and Deborah Peoples answer questions on issues facing the business community during the mayoral runoff forum on May 12, 2021. | Yffy Yossifor/Star-Telegram via AP

06/05/2021 07:00 AM EDT

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Republican mayors are close to extinct in big-city America. And there might be one fewer after Saturdays mayoral runoff in Fort Worth, Texas.

While Democrats hold City Hall in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, the fifth-largest city in Texas Fort Worth is a holdout. Retiring GOP Mayor Betsy Price has held office through a decade of explosive growth that has seen the citys population add more than 200,000 new residents, bringing it to nearly 1 million people.

The race to succeed her is officially nonpartisan, but the political backdrop is hard to miss: Fort Worth is not only one of the few remaining big cities with a GOP mayor, its part of the last major urban county in Texas Tarrant County that remains Republican.

What happens in Tarrant County is closely watched, both inside and outside the state. Once a Republican stronghold, Tarrant has seen its GOP margins decline in recent years President Joe Bidens narrow victory there in November marked the first time in over a half-century that a Democratic presidential nominee carried the county. If the county continues to move leftward, it stands to affect the balance of power in statewide elections.

Recall Effort Against California Gov Newsom Gets Enough Signatures For Ballot

Former adult film actor Mary Carey, who ran in 2003 when Gov. Gray Davis was recalled, announced her intention to run this month, and Los Angeles billboard queen Angelyne, who also ran in 2003, has added her name to the list. And then there’s Sam Gallucci, a tech entrepreneur-turned-pastor, who is running to “bring California back” and restore the “soul of our state.”

State officials haven’t set a date for the election. Potential candidates have until about two months before the election to file papers to run.

Still, with nearly a dozen people already pledging to run, this year’s recall election could take a similar tone to the last one, which attracted more than 100 candidates.

“We still have a long way to go on the candidates,” said Republican strategist Rob Stutzman, who worked in Schwarzenegger’s administration. “It’s way too early to handicap who the candidates will be and how all of this will transpire.”

Also Check: House Democrats And Republicans

[svalleynow]

State Launches ‘Year of Tennessee Teachers’ Campaign

Throughout the month of May, the Tennessee Department of Education invites all Tennesseans to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Month, Week, and Day, proclaimed by Governor Bill Lee. Additionally, the department launched the ‘Year of Tennessee Teachers’ campaign, highlighting teachers for shaping the minds of the over one million K-12 students across the state to ensure they have access to a…

[mymtwp]

iNWS Alert

New event. Severe Thunderstorm Warning from 5/6/2024 2:50 PM to 3:15 PM CDT for Bledsoe County, TN, Sequatchie County, TN. More information.

[svalleynow]

U. S. Postal Service wants to Raise Prices

The U. S. Postal Service recently filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission of mailing services price changes to take effect July 14, 2024. The new rates include a 5-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents. The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices by…

[mymtwp]

iNWS Alert

New event. Dense Fog Advisory from 5/1/2024 3:16 AM to 10:00 AM EDT for Blount County, TN, Grainger County, TN, Bledsoe County, TN, Hancock County, TN, Hawkins County, TN, Hamilton County, TN, Sullivan County, TN, Morgan County, TN, Greene County, TN, Meigs County, TN, Monroe County, TN, Carter County, TN, Cocke County, TN, Bradley County, TN, McMinn County, TN, Anderson County, TN, Polk County,…

[alpha-copy-alpha]

5 Films To Watch If You Liked Prime Video’s Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank is a comedy-drama film, which was released on November 25, 2020, by Amazon Studios. It is one of the most famous movies among the audience and stars Sophia Lillis and Paul Bettany in the lead roles. Paul and Sophia portray the characters of Frank Bledsoe and Beth Bledsoe, respectively. It is directed and written by Alan Ball.

The story of the Prime original Uncle Frank revolves around Paul Bettany, who plays the role of a literature professor in a college in the 1970s. After the death of his father, he moves back to his conservative Southern place from New York and is forced to confront his closeted sexuality as he is a gay man. Sophie is the niece of Frank, and the film turns towards a family drama from a road film when Frank reconnects with Sophie along with his partner Peter Macdissi.

There are various other movies that are relatable to Uncle Frank and have been made in Hollywood. In this article, we have listed some of the best films to watch if you liked the Prime Video’s original Uncle Frank.

The Boys In The Band

The Boys In The Band is a famous Hollywood movie, which was released in the year 2020 and directed by Joe Mantello. It is based on the play The Boys In The Band by Mart Crowley. The story of the film is set around the same time as the Prime Video original Uncle Frank. The story revolves around a birthday party of a gay man. The maximum part of the story takes place in one apartment. The film includes a very highly talented and skilled gay cast, which is the relatable part of this film to Uncle Frank.

Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine is one of the most fantastic and successful road films in Hollywood. The film was released in the year 2006 and directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The film is written by Michael Amdt. The story of the film tells us about a dysfunctional family that goes on a road trip in order to get the youngest member of their family to a beauty procession. The film includes various fresh and old talented performers. The film Little Miss Sunshine tells its tragicomic story with its diverse character-range, such as Olive and Frank, portrayed by Abigail Breslin and Steve Carrell, respectively.

As Good As It Gets

As Good As It Gets is a popular romantic comedy film, which was released in the year 1997 and directed by James L. Brooks. It is a very great film with enough emotions, which is an impressive fact about the film. The leading actors of the film are Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, and Greg Kinnear, who portray the characters of Melvin Udall, Carol Connelly, and Simon Bishop, respectively. Jack is playing the role of a paranoid writer, who expresses his unlikeable views about his neighbor Greg, who is an artist and a gay man. Later, they both are forced to confront, and the waitress Holly plays the role of an intermediary between Jack and Greg. In this way, this film also relates to Uncle Frank.

August: Osage County

August: Osage County is an excellent tragicomedy film, which was released in the year 2013 and directed by John Wells. The film was written by Tracy Letts. The story of the film revolves around a dysfunctional family that lives in Oklahoma and reunite forcefully after a personal tragedy takes place. The film includes various family issues and troubles such as drug addiction, marriage troubles, family secrets, extramarital affairs, and more in the duration of two hours. It would be a must-watch film if you liked Uncle Frank.

Other People

Other People is another excellent comedy-drama film that was released in the year 2016 and directed by Chris Kelly. The film has a great concept that shows how someone feels like a stranger in their own home. The film tells us about David Mulcahey, portrayed by Jesse Plemons, who is a struggling writer, and his mother is suffering from cancer. He moves back to his childhood town in order to take care of his ill mother. David is already recovering from the breakup with his boyfriend, and he has to face various issues because his father is conservative and does not accept his sexuality. This film also includes some plot that can be relatable to Uncle Frank.

This article includes the details and storylines of the other five films than Prime Video’s original Uncle Frank and can be considered a must-watch if you liked the film, Uncle Frank.

Wilder Zayn  is a self-professed security expert; he has been making the people aware of the security threats. His passion is to write about Cyber security,cryptography, malware, social engineering, internet and new media. He writes office.com/setup security products.

Source: https://supportmcafee.weebly.com/blog/5-films-to-watch-if-you-liked-prime-videos-uncle-frank

[warofshadowstheorder]

Chapter 25

After they dried off and got dressed, Natasha led Bledsoe through the Monastery once more.  The scholarly side of Bledsoe took over as the two of them walked through the Monastery’s storied and hallowed halls.  Now that she knew the history of where she was, she was very interested in observing the structure that had been dedicated to the cause of the Order for centuries.  She also remembered that portions of Monasteries that had before stood in various countries were used to complete the one now in use.

She was particularly fascinated by the different styles of architecture located all around the Monastery, and found it appropriate remembering what Tadeas told her about the culture of the Order.  After they’d gone by some of the classrooms where Bledsoe could hear various kinds of instructions, and particularly wondered about something she overheard an instructor saying about reality TV programs, Bledsoe’s curiosity began to take over.

“Where exactly are we going?” Bledsoe asked with genuine wonder.

“You will see,” Natasha replied confidently with a smile, “but I will tell you in advance that it will be like nothing you have ever seen before.”

A few moments later, Natasha opened a door to a two-story building of Renaissance-era architecture.  Bledsoe entered with high anticipation, but was slightly disappointed when she looked around and saw that it was obviously a library.  She’d seen her fair share of libraries, including the library at Yale and the Library of Congress, and at first sight the one she was now inside didn’t seem like anything particularly special.

“I know it is not what you are used to,” Natasha remarked as she moved to one of the various shelves, “but one thing you should know if you have not figured it out already, is that there is more to what you will find here than meets the eye.  Only please be careful with the books.”

Bledsoe decided to put what Natasha said to the test and took a closer look around.  As she looked closer she could tell that most of the books were very old, and that they were kept with great care.  She realized this all the more when she picked up a random volume and took a closer look.  By random chance, she found she’d picked up a first-edition copy of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

Her eyes widened at the realization of what she held, and she was especially careful when handling it.  She gently turned the pages and couldn’t help but admire the craftsmanship and precision put into the structure of the volume and each page.  After she replaced “Dracula,” she looked at a few more works and was amazed to discover that many more of them were first editions, some even signed by the authors.

“This is amazing,” Bledsoe said to Natasha as she held a first-edition copy of “Paradise Lost,” “do you have any idea how much this one alone is worth?”

“It is priceless,” Natasha answered, “and its value to Order is far beyond what the worth would be to your universities or collectors on outside.”

“How did you get this?” Bledsoe asked still not completely over her surprise at what she now found herself surrounded by.

“John Milton,” Natasha began, “was Watcher, one of the best the Order has ever had.  Then, he went blind.  You can read note inside, he explains it best himself.”

Bledsoe followed the advice of her friend and saw that a handwritten message decorated the inside cover.  She read it carefully, her awe and appreciation only increasing.

Your True Holiness:

It has been my great honor to have served you and the cause of the Order these many years.  Alas, I can no longer be of service as the ravages of age have taken the gift of my sight from me.  I feel that there is one more way that I may serve the cause and aid the world.  And that is to commit to posterity that which I know of the origins of this holy war that thou dost now lead.

It is my fondest hope that my words may be of aid to thee, those who champion the cause, and those unsuspecting of the peril we face every day from the Evil One.

I remain thy faithful servant, and pray that the Order will thrive and continue to triumph long after I am gone.

Your servant and brother,

John Milton

“Did it work?” Bledsoe asked after taking a moment to let what she read sink in, “Has this work accomplished what Milton hoped it would?”

“Very much so,” Natasha answered, “outside of scripture, Milton did the best job of depicting the nature of the Devil and his preferred methods.  It is required reading here in Monastery.  I saw you picking up ‘Dracula’ earlier.”

“Let me guess,” Bledsoe said after nodding, “Bram Stoker was a Watcher.”

“Da,” Natasha answered, “he wrote that around the time the Parasites were first spotted.  He did very good job of capturing their subtle nature and depicting that they often appear pleasing.”

“The ones that came after me sure didn’t look very pleasing,” Bledsoe retorted.

“There are different kinds,” Natasha answered, “the ones that came after you are what we call Destroyers.  The ones we call Purveyors are ones who will appear pleasing, especially the ones that take appearance of females, and are often the ones that encourage mortals to engage in Devil’s Exchange.”

“So Senator Saunders…” Bledsoe began.

“Most likely,” Natasha answered sensing how troubled Bledsoe felt on the subject she’d brought up, “he was approached by Purveyor.  Bram Stoker portrayed both in his book by making Count Dracula both of them at different times.”

“That doesn’t surprise me much,” Bledsoe commented, “we knew that he was stepping out on his wife.”

For the first time since her days at Yale, Bledsoe found herself with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and hunger for books.  The only thing in the world she wanted to do was find and absorb all that she found around her.  As she browsed, she found a few thick leather-bound volumes with different years written on the front covers in gold lettering.  Upon opening them, she found them to be full of personal accounts similar to journal entries.  Some dated as far back as the Renaissance and others as recently as the current year.

She discovered that several of them primarily depicted fights between Knights and various creatures all over the world.  Some of the accounts she read took place during time periods she was very familiar with and knew for a fact were well-documented.  She couldn’t believe that the events she now read were never documented themselves.  In her head, she attributed that to a combination of the Knights doing their work incredibly well, and probably covering their tracks and thwarting any attempts at documentation.

Natasha looked over to see what Bledsoe had found.  She walked up next to her and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.  Bledsoe was slightly startled due to how engrossed she was in the volumes, but quickly recovered and faced Natasha.

“I see you have found records,” Natasha said, “many of the people in Monastery over the centuries have kept journals.  And after every mission where something happens that is deemed worthy of preservation, the Knight in charge of it is asked to contribute record of it to history of this fight.  The Apostle says that one day a compilation and abridgement of these will become a book of scripture.”

Bledsoe’s eyes widened and she paid closer attention when she returned to reading.  She was especially interested in the older records she could find and was glad to see that they were organized chronologically.  Natasha went to the shelf and retrieved another record and brought it over to Bledsoe.  Natasha opened it to a specific part and set it down next to Bledsoe before tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention.

“I think you will find this interesting,” Natasha said once she had Bledsoe’s attention, “this is about first American Gifted One to join Order.”

Bledsoe’s eyes widened at what Natasha said.  She immediately began to read the account after Natasha slid it over.  Nothing in the world could have taken her away from what she was reading.

October 23rd, 1698

My name is Bridget Warren Gladiusdei.  At the request of The Apostle, I am committing to posterity the story of how I came to be on the island, as he feels that it will be appreciated by those who will come long after I am gone.  My grandparents came to the New World on the Mayflower back in 1620 and settled in Plymouth in the colony of Massachusetts.

My parents had relocated to the village of Andover in Essex County when I was born in the year 1674.  Father farmed the land he owned while mother mainly tended to their five children, of which I am the fourth-born after my sisters and before my brother.

My life was no different from that of any other child in my village.  Mother taught me sewing, preparing food, looking after the home, and other things designed to make me more desirable as a wife to the local men upon reaching a proper age for marrying.  Father was worried that I had not already been approached by the time I was eighteen years of age.  I did not have time for courtship as I was busy tending to my brother who was quite ill.

It was under these circumstances that the first accusations of Witchcraft in the region came about.  Mother thought very little of it at first, but father was quite consumed by the entire matter.  The thought of Witchcraft being practiced in our village made him very fearful, and he became quite different after that time.

It was during this time of accusations and hysteria that my younger brother Philip went into a very bad fit of what I would later learn is epilepsy.  I remember being terrified as I watched the fit seize him.  Father was certain that the Devil was inside Philip and dismayed at the Devil being inside his home.

I do not know why I did what I did next, but I suddenly felt the need to go to him.  I gently held Philip down to his bed, and inside I remember wanting with all my heart for him to be made whole.  As I focused on helping Philip, it felt as though a flame ignited within my bosom and spread through my body into my hands.

I continued to press down on Philip until I felt myself return to my former state.  I looked down and saw that Philip was at peace, and a feeling of immense gratitude the likes of which I had never felt before washed over me.  It was a feeling that would not last long, for father saw everything and immediately cried witch against me.

I begged and pleaded with him not to.  I did everything I could to convince him that I had not any idea how I had been able to cure Philip, and that I certainly was not a witch.  All my life I had only ever done what I was told by my father and by our Ministers, but father would not be convinced to my innocence.

The constable arrived at our home not long after Philip was healed.  I was taken to the local jail and left there for two days before being taken to the courthouse for my trial.  As I think back to that time, I can tell that the verdict had been determined before I ever set foot in the courthouse.

I was asked a series of questions that I found difficult to answer with the constant terror welling up inside of me.  Most of them were in the nature of inquiring if I was in league with Satan or if I had ever engaged in the practice of black magic.  I answered negatively to all of these and tearfully relayed my story of what had happened with Philip.

It seemed that I had affected those present before father came forward and accused me of lying.  He then brought the court’s attention to the blemish on my stomach and claimed it was something they called a witch’s teat.

My clothing was lifted up high enough for the blemish to be visible.  I was then blindfolded and later told that an official of the court brought a needle to the blemish and it was found that I had not reacted.  I had pricked my finger numerous times while learning to sew from mother, even on some needles that were quite dull, and if they truly brought a needle to me then it was one that had no point to it whatsoever.

That was all the evidence needed.  I was pronounced a witch despite all my pleadings to the contrary.  I remember looking to my mother and sisters in the courthouse, and all of them looking at me with indifference or scorn.  I only hope that Philip, who was still in bed, thinks well of me and that all is well with him.

I sat in the jail for another day, constantly in despair and looking towards Gallows Hill.  I wondered why God was allowing me, a woman still in my youth and never married who had done nothing but keep the commandments all her life, to be put to death for such a heinous crime and meet my end in such a horrifying and disgraceful manner.

The next day a man I had never met before came to visit me.  He said his name was Downton and that he was a judge from a neighboring county come to Salem to learn more about the epidemic of Witchcraft that was rampant there.  He asked me to go into more detail about what had happened with my brother, and I obliged the best I was able.  He listened and asked me more questions before asking the guard to retrieve a book from his carriage.

While the guard was away, and Downton and I alone, he spoke to me in a far different manner.  He told me that what he had said before about being a judge come to see about the accusations was true, but that he had been sent by someone far more powerful than a local magistrate.  He told me that he knew I was innocent, and that I was gifted.  He said that if I wished it, he could see that I was taken to a land far away where I would be instructed on how to use my gift for the greater good of God, and that there I would be much appreciated and revered as the blessed gift from God that I was and am.

When I first heard his story, I did not believe him, I thought he might have been tormenting me or putting me through some kind of trial.  At that time, we could hear the guard returning and Mr. Downton quickly told me that he did not fault me for not believing him.  He added that if I did not want to die, but rather wanted to live for a greater cause, to stand at the far side of my cell that night.

The guard returned with the book Downton had requested.  He asked me a few more questions and pretended to consult his book.  Before he left, he gave me a Bible and bid me clear my conscience before I would go to meet my maker.  He left, and I buried my head in my hands and wept for a long time.  The guard scoffed at me, saying something about the remorse of the damned, and eventually having no other recourse I looked at the Bible Downton had given me.

I found that while it resembled a Bible on the outside, it was not so.  It was a story that began long ago, before the creation of the world.  It told about the Devil and a rebellion in Heaven, about a monster in the ancient world and a group sworn to defend against them.  There was a note in the back, at the time I thought it was written by Downton but I later learned it was from the hand of a man I would come to know as The Apostle, which told of a new chapter in the story that was still just being written.

It told of choice women being endowed with marvelous gifts of healing and others that would be of invaluable service to the cause.  As I read, I could not help but know that the story on those pages was true.  I remembered what Downton had said, and that I was being invited to become a part of the story I held in my hands.  Knowing that nothing good awaited me at my home, I moved to the far side of my cell and there remained.

That night, I looked over at Gallows Hill and thought of the others that had viewed it thinking the same thoughts I was, the exception being that I also thought of possible rescue.  I looked over at the guards who were all awake, the number of guards was added to that evening, and then I remember looking up at the night sky with the moon and stars wondering what lay outside of Salem.  I stayed on that side of my cell, thinking those thoughts, until sleep overcame me.

I have no way of knowing how much time had gone by when a very loud noise awoke me.  I looked up to see a large portion of the wall to my cell gone and two men moving in.  They spoke a language I had never heard before, but later learned was French, before one of them immediately positioned himself between me and the guards.  The one who had given the order then drew a sword the likes of which I had never before seen and used it to bring down the cell door.

He went outside the cell and brought one guard down with his foot.  One of the other guards drew a pistol, but the strange man disarmed him in a manner so quickly that I only knew it had happened when I saw the pistol in his own hand.  He then struck the guard with the pistol, which swiftly brought him to the ground.  He then lifted his blade to the neck of the final guard while pointing the pistol at the other two and saying something to the guards that I could not hear.

He turned to the cell and again spoke in French to his companion.  The companion nodded and then told me, in English, to follow him.  Still in a bit of bewilderment, I did as instructed.  He walked me to a carriage and helped me onto it.  He sat next to me and took the reins.  Not long after he had sat me down, the other man came to the carriage and sat on my other side so that I now found myself between them.

After we had ridden a short distance, the two men introduced themselves to me.  The man who had made himself a barrier between myself and the guards introduced himself as Francois Cobard and spoke English in a manner so foreign to me that I at first did not understand.  The man who had fought off the guards introduced himself as Jonathan Gladiusdei.

They took me to the home of Judge Downton.  I was taken to his attic where a peculiar looking cauldron stood.  The judge dropped some kind of sack tied to a stone into the cauldron and stood back.  There were a few moments as the Judge waited for something when I was able to take in the appearances of my rescuers.

Francois and Jonathan looked very different from the kind of men I had seen in the village.  Their hair was cut short, and they both seemed to have smaller builds than most of the men in the village.  I thought Jonathan was especially very handsome, but Francois also had an appearance that kept my attention.

I saw the waters of the cauldron change after a few moments, and was amazed to look at the water and see the reflection of a person not in the home of Judge Downton.  I was embarrassed to turn and see Jonathan and Francois disrobing, but they told me that I might want to do the same thing since I was about to go into the water.

I decided not to, but to my embarrassment I could not take my eyes off of the two men as they shed their clothing.  I saw that what I had thought was a small build on them was actually a very muscular one.  I had never seen men built like that, it was my first introduction to the nature of the Knights of the Order and the superior lifestyle they practice.

Jonathan helped me into the waters, and after I panicked before my feet hit the floor of the cauldron inside the Cauldron Chamber of the Monastery I came out of the water to catch my first glimpse of my new home.  After I rose up, I was helped out of my wet clothes and into what would become the clothes I am wearing now and will wear for the rest of my life.

I have never looked back on my decision to join the Order, and I will be forever grateful to Judge Downton, Francois, and Jonathan for being the instruments in the hands of God to bring me to where I was always meant to be.

I am Bridget Warren Gladiusdei.  I am a Gifted One and servant to God and His holy Order.

Bledsoe had to take a moment to compose herself after reading the account.  She’d been completely engrossed in it, and turned to see Natasha looking at her with a smile on her face.  Bledsoe smiled back knowing that the story had to have special significance for Natasha.

“It is amazing story,” Natasha said, “is it not?”

“It really is,” Bledsoe answered, “I noticed that Bridget refers to herself as Warren Gladiusdei.  Did she marry Jonathan?”

“Niet,” Natasha answered, “Jonathan was already married.  Bridget married Jonathan’s brother Einar.  The two of them raised seven children inside Monastery and lived out rest of their lives together.”

“That’s odd,” Bledsoe interjected, “one guy’s named Jonathan and his brother’s name is Einar.”

“It is not so odd for Gladiusdei family,” Natasha answered, “they have been in Order pretty much from beginning.  There has been at least one Knight in every generation, and their line encompasses most groups of people in world.”

“Wow,” Bledsoe remarked, “they must have a very interesting family tree.”

“Very much so,” Natasha replied, “and it is considered great honor to be part of it.  Several men who have married into Gladiusdei family will take that name.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Bledsoe said.  “So, is what happened with Bridget and Einar common in the Order?” Bledsoe asked.

“Somewhat,” Natasha answered, “since all Knights are men and all Gifted Ones are women and those two groups work closely, they tend to…how you say in America…pair off.  But sometimes Knights or Gifted Ones will meet people on holiday and eventually marry them.”

“I imagine it would be quite a transition for someone outside of the Order to marry into it,” Bledsoe commented.

“If they come back to Monastery,” Natasha answered, “yes.  But sometimes the Gifted One will choose to work in field.  Sometimes Knight will choose to become Watcher.  Several times, the Knight will elect for more normal life and decide to live on outside with wife.”

“That’s interesting,” Bledsoe remarked, “as committed as these Knights must be to this cause, they’d have to really be in love to change jobs.  I don’t think I could give up my own career for a man.”

“You might be surprised,” Natasha said, “I am not in position where I would have to consider it.  But I know that I would be willing to give up anything and everything I own and am for my Nikolai.”

“So,” Bledsoe interjected quickly, “what else do you have in here?”

Sensing that Bledsoe was trying to change the subject, Natasha led her through the library.  Bledsoe was especially interested in the first-editions.

“Foxe’s Book of the Martyrs,” Bledsoe observed as they walked past it, “I’ve read most of this.  Do you know if it’s accurate?”

“It is largely accurate,” Natasha answered, “certainly the deaths of ancient apostles, but some of it is exaggerated.  It is mainly used in Order to demonstrate what world turns into when Devil has largely unchallenged influence over people without Order to ward him off.”

“Knowing that,” Bledsoe said, “your organization has been doing a very good job considering how far things have come since this book.”

Bledsoe and Natasha stayed in the library until Natasha realized that it was nearly 7.  She informed Bledsoe and they returned to Natasha’s room where Bledsoe left the gown she’d been wearing and changed into her own clothes.

“Do you wear that gown all day when you aren’t in the gym?” Bledsoe asked.

“Ordinarily no,” Natasha answered, “we wear gown when we are scheduled to be in Cauldron Chamber, but other than that we can wear more like what you are now.  But I am on duty for tournament, so I am wearing gown.”

“What do you mean by on duty for the tournament?” Bledsoe asked.

“Participants will get hurt in tournament,” Natasha answered emphasizing ‘will’, “it is very, how you say, brutal. Gifted Ones are on call for each fight to make sure no participant dies and that any injuries are healed quickly.”

For a moment, Bledsoe had second thoughts about attending the tournament.  But the way Natasha casually described it made her feel that there was nothing to fear too greatly apart from the brutality of the event itself.

“Just come back here when tournament is over,” Natasha said as she finished dressing and moved toward the door, “door does not lock and I will come in after Nikolai retires for evening.”

“I won’t wait up,” Bledsoe said in response.

“Oh, one more thing,” Natasha added as she was leaving, “just remember to be careful of Tadeas.”

“I remember what Sara told me,” Bledsoe answered with a smile as the thought of Tadeas came to mind, “and I’ll keep that in mind.”