#may teger

[septembergold]

[theonyxpath]

Small update and preview on Night Horrors: Tormented from Steffie. First (if you’ve been following the Monday Meeting Notes you know this already) the proofs are back with me. The art is AMAZING, Mike Chaney’s crew really knocked it out of the park. So many beautiful wretched creatures in there. Some of the chapter pieces legit made me tear up, because they so perfectly walk that line between hope and despair. I’m proofing it now, and hopefully we’ll get the book to you (and the amazing authors!) soon. (Depending on when this blog goes live, we may be there already—in which case, go team!)

Night Horrors is an antagonist series, and we ran into a little conundrum deciding which antagonists this one should have. Because what’s Promethean without Clones and Zeky? Except we didn’t have room to properly cover those in the Core, and we couldn’t exactly throw antagonists at you without mechanics for them. So Tormented fixes that: you get rules, narrative guidance, and amazing history on creating Clones (for your game—please don’t try to grow people in vats at home) and Zeky (also don’t try to create irradiated people at home; there are other ways to achieve multiplicatio).

Zeky are like ‘regular’ Prometheans in that they have a Pilgrimage, Azothic Memory, Refinements, and transhuman potential. They are not like other Prometheans in that everything they do is radioactive, and, boy, does that fuck things up. Even their Alembics work differently, the effects warped and channeled through a radioactive core. Every Zeka is unique, so Vulcanus for this Zeka works differently than for that Zeka. That means players get to customize their Zeka exactly, which is very cool. (Don’t worry if you’re the Storyteller just looking for a quick NPC—Tormented has three full Zeky and enough sample Alembics to tide you over.)

For the preview, here’s the wonderfully creepy and tragic Tumor Fairy written by Paolo Iantorno. Leave Paolo a note in the comments if you love it!

The Tumor Fairy: Dawn

What’s so special about you? Why do you get to check out?

Background

Dawn is sick. She woke up in her first hospital’s basement in time to see her parents run away. They left a note: “We’re so sorry, we love you very much. Stay in the hospital. Stay out of sight. You’re sick.”

They wrote it on a get-well-soon card.

So, Dawn waited, but they never came back. Days became weeks, weeks became months before Dawn decided they hadn’t been clear on which hospital she had to stay in. She’d learned all of this hospital’s secrets — she’d even met another Promethean on the graveyard shift. He told her what she was and a little more, but he’d been horrified when she showed him her trick.

Dawn went to another hospital. She’d learned a lot about hospitals: People went there when they were sick, and got to leave if they were better. Despite all her poking and prodding and an amateur imitation of the thing the doctor did with that little knife on a sleeping patient, Dawn had no idea what was wrong with her. She knew she was different, that she had to become human, but nobody else had what she had, not even the other Prometheans she encountered.

Dawn’s third hospital had a cancer ward. Biopsy waste containers might as well have been mirrors. The overworked doctor she asked said there was no cure for cancer, which made Dawn angry. She made his insides go bad. Let him be sick forever.

Dawn moves between hospitals every week or so, hiding from baffled doctors and concerned nurses, poking at patients and flipping through charts. She’s figured out the violent outbreaks spread if she stays too long, to say nothing of the first cancer ward she ruined. She’s gleaned a lot more about the Pilgrimage than one might expect from a Zeka, but she is young, unguided, and too powerful for anyone’s good.

Sometimes, Dawn gets angry when a patient recovers too well and gets to go home, especially if they’ve been mean. The parents’ smiles are what really pushes her buttons. Dawn makes those patients sick again. She might even cut them open to see if they get sick like her. She’s not sure why she cries every time they do.

Description

Dawn is a skinny girl with long, greasy blond hair and crooked teeth. She smiles big and often, and asks a ton of questions. Dawn puts on a carefree front. She knows where to find just about everything in hospitals, and how to get around without being seen. She’s even picked up medical procedures from nurses. If you need food, medicine, a place to lay low, or an escape route, Dawn is an invaluable friend. She’ll trade any of these for information with other Prometheans. Dawn is jealous of anyone with loving parents, though she takes most of her anger out on the children. Dawn wears a pale blue hospital gown, scrub pants, and a dark hoodie with plenty of pockets sewn inside. Dawn’s disfigurements are what she thinks her parents meant by “sick,” and it’s hard to blame her. Tumors bulge beneath her skin and break the surface at every node. Her features are distorted and swollen. Dawn’s eyes glow a sickly yellow. When she’s stressed, some of her extremities leak viscous neoplasm studded with blobs of pus and tumorous tissue.

Secrets

Once, Dawn met a nasty doctor on call in a cancer ward’s night shift. He gave her disgusted looks; she could feel the revulsion oozing between his teeth. Dawn felt shame for the first time. The night doctor later screamed at her, and hit a patient. Dawn heard some other doctors talking about “liability,” so she sat herself in the vents above his desk without moving for an entire week. She didn’t know everyone would get so violent. She didn’t know they’d die.

Rumors

“Stay away from the hospital downtown. It belongs to a Zeka. She looks so small, but she will kill anyone who isn’t of her Lineage.”

Dawn has scared away a few Prometheans by accident. She doesn’t mean to hurt them, but whenever they start using Transmutations, she gets excited and tries to copy them. That’s usually when they run.

“She’s Princess Nuke. Her genitor is the granddaddy of all granddaddies, the Tsar himself. He left her there to grow, and one day, he’ll come back to collect.”

Dawn’s parents were an Osiran and an Ulgan. They thought using the x-ray machines and other hazardous equipment stored in the hospital basement would unify their humours; they thought they were ready to be genitors, that they would never abandon their child the way they were abandoned. They were wrong. The radiation was too powerful. They blame it for corrupting their progeny. Dawn, for her part, would give anything to see her parents again.

“If you’re bad, the Tumor Fairy will come and give your cancer teeth so it’ll crawl through your guts and eat you inside out.”

Dawn has been a fixture at local hospitals long enough for younger patients to mythologize the glimpses they’ve caught. One of them pointed at her one night and screamed that at her. The girl wouldn’t stop screaming. She wouldn’t stop tearing at the life-support devices either. Dawn was hurt — she got so angry only the security guard’s presence deterred her from vengeance. She came back the next night to find out the girl had died. The name “Tumor Fairy” makes Dawn’s mouth taste like ashes. She’ll slink away to cry if she hears it.

Story Hooks

The characters needs a hospital, and find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a doctor-turned-hunter. The hunter may be missing a few organs and a leg, but he’s determined to kill “the monster preying on these patients.” Does he mean the young Zeka whose Disquiet caused a lockdown, or the sublimatus stalking the morgue? Between the staff, the patients, the hunter, the Pandoran, and the Tumor Fairy, the throng is in for a wild night.

A friendly Promethean couple shares their refuge with the throng, and tell stories about a Nuclear Promethean holed up in a hospital in the city. The characters find a young Zeka who has done terrible things, but wants to get better — she doesn’t want to be “sick.” Can they teach Dawn? Does the Promethean couple match Dawn’s stories about her genitors, and will the throng attempt to stage a reunion?

The characters know someone who works at the local hospital, who has described what sounds like a Promethean being held under quarantine there. They find a Wasteland threatening to enter advanced stages by the time they arrive, but it’s unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Can they free Dawn from a hospital floor packed by human medical authorities, with more on the way? How will they react when she reveals what she is during their escape?

Dawn

Elpis: Recovery Torment: Jealous Lineage: Zeky Refinement: Cuprum Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 3 Physical Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 1 Social Attributes: Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 3 Mental Skills: Computer 2, Investigation 3, Medicine (Surgery) 2, Occult (Prometheans) 3 Physical Skills: Larceny 2, Stealth 2 Social Skills: Persuasion 2, Socialize (Medical Professionals) 2, Subterfuge 3 Merits: Anonymity 1, Danger Sense, Small-Framed Health: 5 Azoth: 1 Pyros/per turn: 10/1 Transmutations: Metamorphosis — Tegere (Metastasize); Sensorium — Vitreous Humour Willpower: 6 Pilgrimage: 2 Size: 4 Speed: 10 Defense: 3 Initiative: 6 Armor: 0

Unique Distillation: Metastasize

This unique Distillation of Tegere is the Tumor Fairy’s curse.

Dawn focuses the radiation running through her to warp healthy cells into cancerous ones, creating a tumor in the body of the person she’s touching.

Cost: 1 Pyros Dice Pool: Resolve + Medicine + Azoth vs. target’s Stamina + Supernatural Tolerance Action: Instant

Roll Results

Dramatic Failure: Dawn’s body reacts adversely. She gains the grave Sick Tilt for two turns. Failure: Dawn’s tumors writhe and leak. She gains the moderate Sick Tilt for one turn. Success: The target gains the grave Sick Tilt. Exceptional Success: The target gains the grave Sick Tilt. If they attack Dawn, they take a further point of lethal damage per turn they do so, as the tumors she implanted attack their insides.

[pamphletstoinspire]

The Second Book Of Esdras - Also Known As - THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAS - From The Douay-Rheims Bible - Latin Vulgate

Chapter 2

INTRODUCTION.

This Book takes its name from the writer, who was cup-bearer to Artaxerxes, (surnamed Longimanus) king of Persia, and was sent by him with a commission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It is also called the Second Book of Esdras, because it is a continuation of the history begun by Esdras, of the state of the people of God after their return from captivity. Ch. --- Genebrard believes that the latter wrote the work. But how long must he thus have lived? and how come the lists to vary so much? C. --- We may allow that these variations are owing to the mistakes of transcribers, (1 Esd. ii. 1.) for the writer of both works was certainly inspired. Esdras lived a long time along with Nehemias; (C. xii. 35.) and he may have left memorials, as well as the latter, from which the present work seems to be compiled. H. --- Some additions have been made since the days of Nehemias, articularly C. xii. to v. 26, or at least (C.) the five last of these verses. Capel. Chron. --- The passage cited from the commentaries of Nehemias, (2 Mac. ii. 13.) is not to be found here; which shews that we have not his entire work, but only an abridgment, in which the author has adopted his words, with some few alterations. The fifth chapter seems to be out of its place, and also the dedication of the walls. C. xii. 27. Nehemias was a person in great favour at the court of Persia; and of high birth, probably of the royal family, (Euseb. Isid. Genebrard in Chron.) as most of the ancients believe that all who governed, till the time of the Asmoneans, were of the tribe of Juda. Hence he styles Hanani his brother, (C. i. 2.) and declines entering into the temple. C. vi. 11. His name never occurs among the priests; and though we read 2 Mac. i. 18. 21, jussit sacerdos Nehemias, (T.) the Greek has, "Nehemias order the priests;" iereiV: (C. Huet. D.) and the title of priest sometimes is given to laymen at the head of affairs. H. --- In this character Nehemias appeared, by order of Artaxerxes: and notwithstanding the obstructions of the enemies of Juda, rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, and returned after twelve years to court, making a second visit to his own country, a little before the death of the king, whom he probably survived only one year, dying A. 3580, about thirty years after he had been appointed governor. C. --- In the two first chapters, we behold his solicitude for the welfare of his country, in the ten following his success, and in the last what abuses he corrected. W. --- He renewed the covenant with God, (C. ix. and x.) sent for the sacred fire, and established a library at Jerusalem. 2 Mac. i. 19. 34. and ii. 13. H.

The additional Notes in this Edition of the New Testament will be marked with the letter A. Such as are taken from various Interpreters and Commentators, will be marked as in the Old Testament. B. Bristow, C. Calmet, Ch. Challoner, D. Du Hamel, E. Estius, J. Jansenius, M. Menochius, Po. Polus, P. Pastorini, T. Tirinus, V. Bible de Vence, W. Worthington, Wi. Witham. — The names of other authors, who may be occasionally consulted, will be given at full length.

Verses are in English and Latin. HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY

This Catholic commentary on the Old Testament, following the Douay-Rheims Bible text, was originally compiled by Catholic priest and biblical scholar Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849). This transcription is based on Haydock's notes as they appear in the 1859 edition of Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary printed by Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Changes made to the original text for this transcription include the following:

Greek letters. The original text sometimes includes Greek expressions spelled out in Greek letters. In this transcription, those expressions have been transliterated from Greek letters to English letters, put in italics, and underlined. The following substitution scheme has been used: A for Alpha; B for Beta; G for Gamma; D for Delta; E for Epsilon; Z for Zeta; E for Eta; Th for Theta; I for Iota; K for Kappa; L for Lamda; M for Mu; N for Nu; X for Xi; O for Omicron; P for Pi; R for Rho; S for Sigma; T for Tau; U for Upsilon; Ph for Phi; Ch for Chi; Ps for Psi; O for Omega. For example, where the name, Jesus, is spelled out in the original text in Greek letters, Iota-eta-sigma-omicron-upsilon-sigma, it is transliterated in this transcription as, Iesous. Greek diacritical marks have not been represented in this transcription.

Footnotes. The original text indicates footnotes with special characters, including the astrisk (*) and printers' marks, such as the dagger mark, the double dagger mark, the section mark, the parallels mark, and the paragraph mark. In this transcription all these special characters have been replaced by numbers in square brackets, such as [1], [2], [3], etc.

Accent marks. The original text contains some English letters represented with accent marks. In this transcription, those letters have been rendered in this transcription without their accent marks.

Other special characters.

Solid horizontal lines of various lengths that appear in the original text have been represented as a series of consecutive hyphens of approximately the same length, such as ---.

Ligatures, single characters containing two letters united, in the original text in some Latin expressions have been represented in this transcription as separate letters. The ligature formed by uniting A and E is represented as Ae, that of a and e as ae, that of O and E as Oe, and that of o and e as oe.

Monetary sums in the original text represented with a preceding British pound sterling symbol (a stylized L, transected by a short horizontal line) are represented in this transcription with a following pound symbol, l.

The half symbol (1/2) and three-quarters symbol (3/4) in the original text have been represented in this transcription with their decimal equivalent, (.5) and (.75) respectively.

Unreadable text. Places where the transcriber's copy of the original text is unreadable have been indicated in this transcription by an empty set of square brackets, [].

Chapter 2

Nehemias with commission from king Artaxerxes cometh to Jerusalem: and exhorteth the Jews to rebuild the walls.

[1] And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king: that wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king: and I was as one languishing away before his face.

Factum est autem in mense Nisan, anno vigesimo Artaxerxis regis : et vinum erat ante eum, et levavi vinum, et dedi regi : et eram quasi languidus ante faciem ejus.

[2] And the king said to me: Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou dost not appear to be sick? this is not without cause, but some evil, I know not what, is in thy heart. And I was seized with an exceeding great fear:

Dixitque mihi rex : Quare vultus tuus tristis est, cum te aegrotum non videam? non est hoc frustra, sed malum nescio quod in corde tuo est. Et timui valde, ac nimis :

[3] And I said to the king: O king, live for ever: why should not my countenance be sorrowful, seeing the city of the place of the sepulchres of my fathers is desolate, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire?

et dixi regi : Rex in aeternum vive : quare non moereat vultus meus, quia civitas domus sepulchrorum patris mei deserta est, et portae ejus combustae sunt igni?

[4] Then the king said to me: For what dost thou make request? And I prayed to the God of heaven,

Et ait mihi rex : Pro qua re postulas? Et oravi Deum caeli,

[5] And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, and if thy servant hath found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me into Judea to the city of the sepulchre of my father, and I will build it.

et dixi ad regem : Si videtur regi bonum, et si placet servus tuus ante faciem tuam, ut mittas me in Judaeam ad civitatem sepulchri patris mei, et aedificabo eam.

[6] And the king said to me, and the queen that sat by him: For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? And it pleased the king, and he sent me: and I fixed him a time.

Dixitque mihi rex, et regina quae sedebat juxta eum : Usque ad quod tempus erit iter tuum, et quando reverteris? Et placuit ante vultum regis, et misit me : et constitui ei tempus.

[7] And I said to the king: If it seem good to the king, let him give me letters to the governors of the country beyond the river, that they convey me over, till I come into Judea:

Et dixi regi : Si regi videtur bonum, epistolas det mihi ad duces regionis trans flumen, ut traducant me, donec veniam in Judaeam :

[8] And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, to give me timber that I may cover the gates of the tower of the house, and the walls of the city, and the house that I shall enter into. And the king gave me according to the good hand of my God with me.

et epistolam ad Asaph custodem saltus regis, ut det mihi ligna, ut tegere possim portas turris domus, et muros civitatis, et domum, quam ingressus fuero. Et dedit mihi rex juxta manum Dei mei bonam mecum.

[9] And I came to the governors of the country beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent with me captains of soldiers, and horsemen.

Et veni ad duces regionis trans flumen, dedique eis epistolas regis. Miserat autem rex mecum principes militum, et equites.

[10] And Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the Ammonite, heard it, and it grieved them exceedingly, that a man was come, who sought the prosperity of the children of Israel.

Et audierunt Sanaballat Horonites, et Tobias servus Ammanites : et contristati sunt afflictione magna, quod venisset homo, qui quaereret prosperitatem filiorum Israel.

[11] And I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.

Et veni Jerusalem, et eram ibi tribus diebus.

[12] And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, and I told not any man what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem, and there was no beast with me, but the beast that I rode upon.

Et surrexi nocte ego, et viri pauci mecum, et non indicavi cuiquam quid Deus dedisset in corde meo ut facerem in Jerusalem, et jumentum non erat mecum, nisi animal, cui sedebam.

[13] And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, and before the dragon fountain, and to the dung gate, and I viewed the wall of Jerusalem which was broken down, and the gates thereof which were consumed with fire.

Et egressus sum per portam vallis nocte, et ante fontem draconis, et ad portam stercoris, et considerabam murum Jerusalem dissipatum, et portas ejus consumptas igni.

[14] And I passed to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's aqueduct, and there was no place for the beast on which I rode to pass.

Et transivi ad portam fontis, et ad aquaeductum regis, et non erat locus jumento, cui sedebam, ut transiret.

[15] And I went up in the night by the torrent, and viewed the wall, and going back I came to the gate of the valley, and returned.

Et ascendi per torrentem nocte, et considerabam murum, et reversus veni ad portam vallis, et redii.

[16] But the magistrates knew not whither I went, or what I did: neither had I as yet told any thing to the Jews, or to the priests, or to the nobles, or to the magistrates, or to the rest that did the work.

Magistratus autem nesciebant quo abiissem, aut quid ego facerem : sed et Judaeis et sacerdotibus, et optimatibus, et magistratibus, et reliquis qui faciebant opus, usque ad id loci nihil indicaveram.

[17] Then I said to them: You know the affliction wherein we are, because Jerusalem is desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire: come, and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, and let us be no longer a reproach.

Et dixi eis : Vos nostis afflictionem in qua sumus : quia Jerusalem deserta est, et portae ejus consumptae sunt igni : venite, et aedificemus muros Jerusalem, et non simus ultra opprobrium.

[18] And I shewed them how the hand of my God was good with me, and the king's words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise up, and build. And their hands were strengthened in good.

Et indicavi eis manum Dei mei, quod esset bona mecum, et verba regis, quae locutus esset mihi, et aio : Surgamus, et aedificemus. Et confortatae sunt manus eorum in bono.

[19] But Sanaballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant, the Ammonite, and Gossem the Arabian heard of it, and they scoffed at us, and despised us, and said: What is this thing that you do? are you going to rebel against the king?

Audierunt autem Sanaballat Horonites, et Tobias servus Ammanites, et Gosem Arabs, et subsannaverunt nos, et despexerunt, dixeruntque : Quae est haec res, quam facitis? numquid contra regem vos rebellatis?

[20] And I answered them, and said to them: The God of heaven he helpeth us, and we are his servants: let us rise up and build: but you have no part, nor justice, nor remembrance in Jerusalem.

Et reddidi eis sermonem, dixique ad eos : Deus caeli ipse nos juvat, et nos servi ejus sumus : surgamus et aedificemus : vobis autem non est pars, et justitia, et memoria in Jerusalem.

Commentary:

Ver. 1. Year. It seems the Persians began the year with Tizri, since both Casleu (the third) and Nisan (the seventh month of the civil year) fall on the twentieth of the king. --- Wine. These kings drunk only that of Syria. Strabo xv. --- People of distinction were appointed cup-bearers; and even the children of kings did not esteem the office beneath them. Herod. iii. 34. Athen. x. 6. Homer, &c. C. --- I was. Prot. "I had not been before-time sad in his presence." H. --- Heb. lit. "I was not evil." Sept. "an enemy, or stranger." Arab. "disagreeable." Syr. "sorrowful." Sept. also, "there was not another (ouk hn eteroV) present," C. v. 6. S. Jerom seems not to have read the negation. H.

Ver. 2. Is not. Heb. "nothing but sorrow of heart;" (Syr. C. Prot.) or rather, thou art meditating only treason. Sept. "This is nothing but wickedness of heart," (H.) which often shews itself on the countenance. The king might suspect that he was giving him poison. M. --- Hence Nehemias feared, (C.) dreading such suspicions, (H.) and aware lest the company might frustrate his good design, as contrary to the interests of the crown. T.

Ver. 3. Live; an usual salutation. Dan. iii. 9. and v. 10. So Ælian (var. i. 32.) says, "O king Artaxerxes, mayst thou reign for ever." --- Father, v. 5. He knew that the Persians shewed great regard to the dead, (C. T.) whose bodies they sometimes cover with wax, and keep in their house, (Cic. Tusc. i. Alex. Genial iii. 2.) or inter. Herod. i. 140.

Ver. 4. Heaven, a fervent ejaculation, in secret, (T.) to touch the king's heart, (C.) and to enable me to speak in a proper manner. M.

Ver. 6. And, &c. In private the queen might dine with her husband, but not in public. Est. i. C. --- Queen; probably Esther, if she were married to this king. M. --- But this is uncertain. H. --- Usher thinks it was Damaspia, mentioned by Ctesias. C. --- Time, when I should return. Some king eight or ten years, and returned into Judea towards the end of the reign of Artaxerxes. C. xiii. 6. C. --- He perhaps asked permission to visit Jerusalem for only a short period, at first, but his presence being deemed necessary, he was permitted to continue there as governor full twelve years. M.

Ver. 7. Over; give me a guard, (H.) or accompany me to Jerusalem. M.

Ver. 8. Forest. Heb. pordes, "paradise," or garden planted with trees. Pliny (v. 23.) mentions a "paradise," in Cœlosyria. Grot. --- But Nehemias might petition to be supplied with cedars from Libanus, (T.) as they had been given for the temple. 1 Esd. iii. 7. H. --- Tower. Heb. bira, means also "a palace or temple." It may designate the porch of the temple, which was 120 cubits high; (2 Par. iii. 4. C.) though that had been lately repaired by Esdras. M. --- Others think the doors of the courts are meant, as they were as strong as those of towers. Vatab. --- They were not yet finished. C. x. 9. Many believe that (C.) Nehemias speaks of the royal palace, which had been almost contiguous to the temple, (M.) where he intended to build one for himself, while he should reside in the city. T. --- But this might give umbrage to the king. C. --- He could not, however, intend his favourite to remain without a suitable palace; and the latter seems to have designed not only to repair that which Solomon had founded, but also to erect another house for the governor. H. --- Good hand; favour, (M.) and powerful aid. H.

Ver. 10. Horonite, a native, not (C.) a petty king (Grot.) of Horonaim, in the country of Moab. Jer. xlviii. 3. He must have been very old, if he lived till the temple was built at Garizim: (Josephus and Scaliger) but Petau supposes that there were two of the name. --- Servant; an officer appointed over the Samaritans, as well as Sanaballat. The Persian monarchs styled all their subjects servants or slaves. C. --- Grieved. Thus unbelievers repine when any one endeavours to propagate the truth, (H.) or to establish the Church. W.

Ver. 12. Any man, at Jerusalem, (v. 16.) though he had informed the king, v. 8. H. --- No beast; that none might be alarmed.

Ver. 13. Valley of Cedron, on the east, (C.) or west, near Calvary. M. T. --- Dragon. Heb. Tannin, or "great fish," which might be kept there, unless the fountain was famous for the appearance of some dragon, or the water proceeded from the mouth of a brazen one. Sept. have read thanim, "figs." The fountain of Siloc might have many names. C. --- Viewed. Sept. "I walked upon the wall of Jerusalem, which these men are demolishing or clearing away," &c. H.

Ver. 14. Aqueduct, or reservoir, made by Ezechias. 2 Par. xxxii. 30.

Ver. 15. Torrent of Cedron, having gone round the city. C.

Ver. 16. Magistrates. Sept. "guards." Seganim denotes various officers. C. --- Work, or to any workmen. H. --- None were now employed. T.

Ver. 18. Hand. God had manifested his goodness and power, at the court of Persia. W.

Ver. 19. Arabian governor. He afterwards accuses Nehemias. C. vi. 6. C.

Ver. 20. Answered. Sept. "returned them an account (logon) ...we are his pure servants, and we will build." H. --- Part, or business. 1 Esd. iv. 4. --- Justice, or right to the city. C. --- You may mind your own affairs. T. - Remembrance. It was esteemed a high honour to be a citizen of Jerusalem. Ps. lxxxvi. 5.

[valerieullmerromanceauthor]

The Moreva of Astoreth by Roxanne Bland

The Moreva of Astoreth by Roxanne Bland

… Science Fiction/Romance Date Published: January 5, 2021 Publisher: Blackrose Press … … Astoreth, the Devi Goddess of Love, demands complete devotion from her morevs because hearts divided cannot serve. Moreva Tehi’s hearts aren’t divided. They belong to Laerd Teger. And the price of her love could be her life. … … Book Reviews   “Bland may very well be the Alice Walker of science fiction.”…

[bookjunkiez]

The Moreva of Astoreth Tour

The Moreva of Astoreth Tour

  Science Fiction/Romance     Date Published: January 5, 2021   Publisher: Blackrose Press Astoreth, the Devi Goddess of Love, demands complete devotion from her morevs because hearts divided cannot serve. Moreva Tehi’s hearts aren’t divided. They belong to Laerd Teger. And the price of her love could be her life. Book Reviews   “Bland may very well be the Alice Walker of science fiction.” The…

[its-btrz-blog]

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (by Mackenzi Lee) Book Review

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is a YA Historical Fiction/Romance book by author Mackenzi Lee, published in 2017 by Katherine Teger Books.

What made me want to read it:

Historical fiction, a tour in Europe, queer characters? Yes, it's perfect. Also, all the publicity around it and the good reviews, made me very excited to come read it.

What is it about (no spoilers):

Henry Montage (Monty) is a gentleman's son, but instead of being the fine young man everyone expects him to be, he is instead wild and enjoys late nights drinking and gambling and spent in the company of men and women. Before assuming his place as his father's heir, he is going on his Grand Tour of Europe, where he's supposed to grow up and let go of his vices, preparing himself for a more serious life.

In this tour, he will be accompanied by his best friend and long time crush, Percy, from whom he will be separated at the end of the year, and by his younger sister, being escorted in her way to a finishing school. Courtesy of Monty's recklessness, they will become entangled in an unexpected plot and embark on a dangerous adventure for an unique possession.

What I thought about it

First of all, I have to say, this book was really fun to read. I barely noticed time passing, and then I was almost done. If there's anything I can say about it, it's that it's definitely entertaining. As an adventure, as a romance, and even as historical fiction, it's a great book.

Let me talk about the characters then, since they are probably the strongest point in the book.

As the main character, we have Monty (Henry Montague), the eldest son of an English member of the peerage and heir to his father's title and estate. Despite being supposed to be a gentleman, Monty falls short of those expectations. He was expelled from school, indulges in alcohol and gambling and sex with both women and men, and his behavior is considered scandalous and a shame for his father. He is selfish and cares little for his action's consequences in others' lives. He also is, at most times, unaware of the extent of his privilege and seems to forget not everyone is as lucky as he is, and that some of his problems seem petty compared to everyone else's. Still, he manages to be a protagonist that you can easily like. We see his flaws, and as people point them out to him he becomes a more aware of the world around him and starts to learn (he is not always conscious of the advantages his sex, his wealth and social position, and skin color give him). It's impossible not to care for him when he talks about his love for his best friend, or when we see how his father treats him over his sexuality. I don't like perfect characters, I like seeing them grow and still be imperfect and Monty is a good example of this.

Now, Percy. Percy is Monty's best friend, and the guy he's in love with. He's from a high-born family, but he is a bastard and biracial, and thus doesn't have the same status as Monty. He loves playing the fiddle, and although he accompanies Monty in his outings, is shown to be more moderate and conscious of what he's doing and how it may affect his reputation. Many times, he's Monty's voice of reason and he doesn't follow him blindly, disagreeing and even arguing with him, trying to show him the error of his ways. It was good to see him as a bit of a contrast to Monty and he is generally a sweet character.

Finally, Felicity. She's Monthy's younger sister and I was afraid of two things, and then fortunately, proven wrong. One, I was afraid of her being simply there as a decoration, just for the sake of existing and having no relevance to the plot at all. Two, I was afraid that, not being just part of the landscape, she would be relegated to one or more stereotypes. She was actually an important character, necessary to many points, and had her own personality and her own desires and motivations, not relying on too many annoying clichés to be her own person. To add to it, her relationship with her older brother is one of the few sibling relationships in fiction I can actually relate to, since it feels very real to me, and not at all forced, like some I've seen on other books (that make me wonder if the authors even have siblings).

As for the plot itself. I've already said how entertaining it was, and it was an exciting adventure. Although I love historical fiction, I'm not an expert, and as far as I can see (from reading experience) there wasn't really anything glaringly out of place. They travel quite  a bit (obviously), and I'm sad there wasn't much focus on seeing and appreciating the places and the culture, so I feel like that was somewhat under used. Another thing that bothered me, was this pseudo-science bordering on fantasy/magic element that is present as a huge plot point. I thought it would be dismantled and there would be a reasonable explanation for it, but no. I guess, as a science/health student these things bother me when they just appear in a book (this is fiction, but it's historical, not magic or fantastical) without much context. If it weren't for that detail, this book would've been a 5 stars rating to me.

Lastly, the romance is adorable and wonderful to read about. This is a rare thing for me, but here it is. Also, aside from the main romantic plot, there aren't any forced side romances, joining characters for the sake of convenience. One of the characters even seems to have no romantic/sexual inclinations!

Conclusion:

This is a very good book, fun and entertaining, with a lovely love story in the middle. It also has themes of inequality in sex/race/social position/sexual orientation, with accepting illness and disability and dealing with abusive people. It was a 4 stars for me, only because of a detail that will probably not bother everyone, so if you like the synopsis, go ahead and read it! I promise it's worth your time.

(And I’ll definitely be reading the next book)

[This review is also available here.]

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What is machine learning?

Credit: a-image/Shutterstock

Machine learning has become an important buzzword in business technology circles, but for the average business owner that phrase probably makes your eyes glaze over, and for some, it may induce angst. But it doesn't have to be so scary or inaccessible. In fact, learning a little can help your business run smarter, faster and more efficiently. At its core, machine learning just means a computer that can learn independent of explicit programming.

From marketing to customer service, businesses are finding ways to use machine learning to streamline operations. It's also become a strong presence in our everyday lives – facial recognition software, search engines and even Netflix all utilize machine learning to tailor a customer's experience. Sure, Luddites aren't going to invent new ways to use machine learning to improve their business. But there are several ways businesses can benefit from machine learning that already exists.

What is machine learning?

Essentially, machine learning occurs when an artificial intelligence (AI) program can analyze data and draw new conclusions that weren't previously programmed. Whether these conclusions are in the form of finishing a task, answering a question or completing an action, they constitute a form of learning.

This type of technology has changed the way some businesses operate. By automating certain processes, businesses have become more efficient and even lowered costs. For businesses, there are two basic ways machine learning can impact efficiency: by automating processes and by analyzing vast amounts of data that people wouldn't be able to comprehend.

Matt Michelson is the chief scientist for InferLink Corp., a research and development firm that handles government contract work focused on AI and machine learning development. For his team, machine learning can be used to automate mundane tasks, such as inputting data.

"You might be able to have an algorithm replicate what someone is already doing, but at the scale of a computer," he said in an email. "Someone might take paper receipts, scan them and then enter the values in a spreadsheet. Instead, an algorithm could learn to pull the values from the scanned receipts and enter it themselves. It can do it at a scale no human could, and it frees that person to do something else more mind intensive."

In addition to automating certain processes, Michelson said that machine learning can replicate a human task and reach a new conclusion, instead of just making that task more efficient. "In Evid Science, our algorithms read and understand the medical literature, and so they can find ways to compare medical therapies that humans haven't done before. In this case, the benefit isn't really about efficiency, it's that it would be impossible for a human to read so much content and make sense of it all," he said.

Through these two lenses, machine learning can change the way your business operates. The method behind achieving this goal, however, is more complicated. [Read related article: How to Get a Job in AI or Machine Learning]

How it works

Machine learning involves two main distinctions: supervised and unsupervised learning. According to AI Horizon, the difference between these two types of learning rests with the information the machine has about the data. In supervised learning, a programmer can label what data is right and wrong based on a desired outcome.

Michelson further describes supervised learning as giving "your algorithm more and more examples of what you want it to do. For instance, you give it pictures and say which are pictures of buildings versus not buildings, for an app."

In unsupervised learning, a programmer does not label any data and instead the machine must take in as much information as possible, analyze it and pick the best option. Michelson pegged this type of learning as analyzing vast amounts of data.

"The [learning] can come because your algorithm has access to more and more data, though not examples, over time. For instance, users rating products or simply [having] more access to volumes and volumes of text," he said.

There are other forms of learning and different classifications for them, like semi-supervised learning, decision trees or reinforced learning, but the two defined types provide a bit of background on two main types of machine learning.

The difference between AI and machine learning

These two terms are used almost interchangeably by business owners, but there is a slight distinction between AI and machine learning technology. Machine learning specifically refers to a machine's ability to learn on its own while AI is more of an umbrella term that refers to a program's autonomy when completing a task.

How is it used in business?

There are multitude ways that machine learning has found its way into business. As a technology that's changed fields ranging from marketing to cybersecurity, some businesses have harnessed the power that technology like machine learning can provide.

Marketing

One area in which machine learning has begun to thrive is advertising. By gathering and analyzing user data, ad companies can optimize messages and tailor them directly to different consumer bases. Scott Teger, who runs platform operations and analytics for the advertising firm Mundo Media, said that optimizing ads would be nearly impossible without machine learning.

"I work in digital advertising," Teger said, "and with so much of the world doing things online, the enormous task of optimizing advertising would be nearly impossible without AI. AI helps with everything from fraud, ad quality, to customer success and so on."

Another aspect of machine learning in advertising is dealing with fraud. Teger said that Mundo Media spends as much time building fraud controls as it does building technology.

"We're entering an age where bots are prolific and even more sophisticated. Without machine learning, it would be a daunting task to quickly and correctly identify real people versus bots designed to behave like real people," Teger said. "This … affects everyone in the chain, because it artificially drives up the marketing costs for advertisers and brands, which fluffs up the cost of products for consumers."

Customer service

Customer service has seen an explosion in machine learning and AI technology. Services, including chatbots and automated assistance, have been developed and provided to businesses to simplify customer service issues.

Artificial Solutions is the parent company of Teneo, a program that provides businesses with an AI customer service option. Andy Peart, chief marketing officer for Artificial Solutions, said that machine learning has made a major impact on a business's ability to make customer service problems more convenient.

"For too long, customer service has been relegated to a formulaic question-and-answer scenario that rarely leaves the customer satisfied and often doesn't solve the problem at hand," Peart said. "Common to marketers and growing in prevalence are intelligent conversational chatbots."

These chatbots have allowed businesses to cut costs while efficiently handling customers' routine queries.

Security

Another way machine learning has been utilized by businesses is through detecting fraud. Riskified is an ecommerce fraud prevention company that evaluates transactions and determines whether they are fraudulent. Stephen Fidgeon, director of communications for the company, said that Riskified uses algorithms to analyze data.

"By feeding our algorithms huge amounts of data, we're able to determine fraud instantly," wrote Fidgeon in an email. "Fraudsters are advanced and ever evolving. They share tactics and successes, so legacy solutions that focus on a set of rules are easily outsmarted. The nature of machine learning means that we're able to evolve with them and stay ahead of their newest tactics."

This is one area where machine learning has been used to protect different businesses. Heightened security is another example of how machine learning can get ahead of a problem and stop it before it hurts a business.

Bottom line

There are many other ways machine learning can be helpful, in addition to what we've touched on here. Machine learning and AI has created a strong foothold in the business world. As the industry continues to expand, it may be worth considering how machine learning or AI could impact your own business.

Source

http://businessnewsdaily.com/10306-what-is-machine-learning.html