Category Archives: Sealand

Gaelle Beller Studio/Getty For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

Amid record-breaking numbers of cases of COVID-19, health experts are recommending that you ditch your old cloth masks and even those handy blue surgical masks. Instead, they say an N95, KN95 or KF94 are the best choices. With 95% filtration, N95 and KN95 respirators provide the maximum amount of protection of any face covering -- and that's what you need against the highly transmissible omicron variant of COVID.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is even considering changing its mask guidance to recommend that people wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 "if they can do so consistently," the Washington Post reported. The updated guidance is not only inspired by the increased contagiousness of omicron, but also by the fact that N95s are no longer in short supply, like they were in the earliest days of the COVID pandemic.

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But for members of the general public, there can be a stark disconnect between recommendations and reality. N95s may not technically be in short supply in the US, but they can still be hard to shop for you can't just walk into your local CVS and pick one up. Online stock is easier to find, but it can quickly sell out, come with lengthy shipping times, or simply be too expensive for some Americans to access. Moreover, it can be tricky to sort through all the different brands to avoid fakes not to mention finding one that actually fits your face properly. Different brands work for different people, but it's hard to shop around in such a tight market.

You can find more advice about which mask styles and brands to look for on CNET's roundup of best face masks, which explains the differences between N95s, KN95s and KF94s.

But if your N95-style mask of choice is sold out, won't get to you for three weeks or is just priced too high, there are still steps that you can take with surgical and cloth masks to maximize protection against omicron. Here's what to know.

(Before we move on, a reminder that staying up to date on your vaccinations, including booster doses, is by far the most important way to protect yourself against COVID-19. Unvaccinated people are 14 times more likely to die from COVID than fully vaccinated people.)

Let's say you can't get your hands on a well-fitting, high-quality N95, KN95 or KF94 right now. That leaves you with two options: a cloth mask or a surgical-style mask, both of which are widely available at all budgets. Of the two, you should always opt for a surgical mask.

A cloth mask is the least effective face covering you can use, and one that was only recommended in the early days of the pandemic because even surgical masks were in extremely short supply. It's better than nothing but when it comes to omicron, "better than nothing" is hardly enough.

These days, you can find surgical masks easily at a variety of brick-and-mortar retailers as well as online, and they're the same price or cheaper than their cloth alternatives. In short, there's no reason to rely on a cloth mask alone anymore.

Remember that surgical masks are designed for one-time-use only. That may make them less sustainable than cloth, but it's also part of what makes them safer.

But wait don't throw away your cloth masks just yet. Two masks are better than one, and cloth masks come in handy for double-masking.

Bob Bollinger, professor of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and founder of Emocha Health, previously told CNET that if you can't find an N95-style respirator, "a good-quality disposable mask under a cloth mask is a reasonable alternative, as long as the fit on the face, nose and mouth is tight."

Double-masking not only adds more layers of material, but it also improves the fit and seal of both masks, if you choose the right cloth mask to put on top (one that fits snugly without gaps).

Speaking of fit, that's one of the most important factors when it comes to face coverings, whether cloth, surgical or N95. Even a medical-grade N95 respirator won't live up to its full potential for protection if it doesn't create a tight seal on the face, with no gaps. That's why health care professionals are individually fitted for their respirators. For regular citizens with especially petite or large faces, it can be tough to find an N95 that does the trick. Also, thanks to that tight seal and thicker material, N95s can be uncomfortable to wear all day if you're not used to them. These are all reasons that it's good to know your other options.

Like N95s, surgical masks need to fit properly to achieve their full protective potential. But in many cases, there are gaps around the edges of the mask. (If you wear glasses, you can see the air leakage for yourself in the form of fog on your lenses.)

One way to significantly improve the seal and fit of your surgical mask is to use a mask brace or mask fitter. These are rubber or silicone devices that go over your mask, creating a tighter seal around the top, bottom and sides.

Studies show that these devices dramatically improve the filtration efficiency of surgical masks. They're inexpensive, especially considering that you can continue to use the same mask brace with multiple disposable masks. You can even make your own out of rubber bands.

You can also improve the fit of your mask in key ways, per the CDC. Use surgical masks with an adjustable nose wire to prevent gaps at the top. Knot the ear loops of the mask to tighten the sides.

Another handy invention is mask tape, which you can use to manually close any gaps and prevent slipping.

If cost or low stock is a major deterrent for you when it comes to N95s, KN95s or KF94s, you should know that these respirators aren't one-time-use only, like surgical masks. You can reuse them multiple times, as long as you let each mask sit for a while before reusing.

To use this method, put your mask directly into a paper bag after use. This allows for a neutralization period of sorts, ensuring that the mask is safe and virus-free the next time you put it on.

"It's not the bag that's doing the magic trick, it's actually the process of keeping the mask away from decontaminating someone else or a surface, and also keeping a dry environment in order for the virus to not spread or stay on the mask," Dr. Jessica Shepherd, VeryWell Health's chief medical officer, told New Orleans CBS affiliate WWL4.

The mask needs to sit for at least 24 to 48 hours in a dry place, experts say. In order to have a clean mask to wear every day, you'll need to have a few on hand so that you can rotate them out. Each mask should have its own paper bag, labeled with a number for easy tracking.

"For an N95, we'd recommend you switch (the mask) every day," Dr. Sabrina Assoumou, an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center, told USA Today. "But, you can rotate them. If you have three masks, (for example), you could number them and switch them around."

As long as the fit is still intact and the mask is unsoiled, you can continue to recycle your mask, though health officials recommend limiting reuse to five times per mask. Still, if you can get your hands on at least five N95s or KN95s, that could last you about a month using this method.

Note that there is no way to fully sanitize your N95 at home, only in professional settings. Health care workers should not reuse respirators except in crisis scenarios, as outlined by the CDC.

According to the Washington Post, the CDC's "updated guidance is expected to say that the best mask is the one that is worn consistently and correctly." CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky reiterated that message at a recent White House briefing: "Any mask is better than no mask."

So, if you can consistently get your hands on a N95, KN95 or KF94 that fits your budget and face -- and if you're comfortable reliably wearing them -- then you should absolutely do so. But if not, the recommendations above will help keep you as safe as possible when you're in situations where masking is necessary.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Can't find an N95 or KN95? Here are 5 tips to boost your mask's protection - CNET

After the painful loss to Ole Miss this past Saturday, Mississippi State basketball head coach Ben Howland demanded better out of his team. Fast forward a couple brutal practices and that very same team returned to their home court to thump Georgia via a final score of 88-72 on Wednesday night.

It wasnt without any sweat, though, as Georgia did what many people have done this season against MSU - start off hot. So hot, in fact, that the other Bulldogs held a one point lead over MSU at the halfway mark.

Iverson Molinar would have something to say about that, though, as he poured in 17 points in the second half to elevate State to a comfortable lead and himself to a career high 28 points in the game.

We needed this, said Molinar to reporters after play had concluded, because, you know, we can see how much better we can be if we actually play a little harder on defense, and being more aggressive on the offensive end. The team needed this, man.

Molinar wasnt the only MSU Bulldog to set a personal record, though, as in the absence of Tolu Smith, forward Javian Davis carved out his own MSU career high in the victory, finishing with 12.

I was just pretty much trying to find angles, said Davis of his scoring efforts after the game, you know, coach is always preaching during practices and games to get a good seal and be aggressive, so I was pretty much just sealing hard, getting good angles and finishing.

With Molinar and Davis leading the way, MSU scored 58 points in the paint to Georgias 28. The MSU defense also forced 15 turnovers, which they promptly turned into 20 points.

This was a key bounce-back game for MSU, and puts them back in the top half of a loaded SEC in the early goings of conference play - that will be huge come selection Sunday.

The schedule doesnt ease up for the Bulldogs, though, as they prepare themselves for the three-point barrage that comes with playing the Alabama Crimson Tide in their next test. That game takes place this Saturday in Starkville at 5 p.m. CT.

Excerpt from:

We Needed This: Iverson Molinar and Crew Bounce Back Against Georgia - CalBearsMaven

The Green Bay Packers deployed a healthier version of their starting offensive line against the Detroit Lions in Week 18. The Packers still lost a meaningless game, but it was good for a couple of guys to get some reps before the playoffs.

The key returners were, of course, David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers. Bakhtiari played in his first game since tearing his ACL at the end of the 2020 regular season. The two-time first-team All-Pro looked like his usual self as he failed to give up a sack or even a single pressure in 27 offensive snaps. No one is happier than quarterback Aaron Rodgers to have his blindside protected by one of the best in the business once again.

Myers made his first start since suffering a knee injury in Week 6. It was important for Rodgers and his rookie center to get reacquainted with cadences and protection adjustments. Green Bays 2021 second-round pick showed some rust in his return.

With Myers back in the lineup, Lucas Patrick moved over to right guard rather than getting sent to the bench. Patrick replaced rookie Royce Newman, who had started all 16 games leading up to the season finale.

The Packers starters only played a half against the Lions, but it was enough to put out some film to review ahead of the playoffs. Without further ado, lets take a look.

First play of the game. Using his elite pocket awareness, Rodgers has all day to find Allen Lazard over the middle for a 28-yard pickup. However, lets focus on Bakhtiari in his first pass set. He gets a good initial punch that sends the defensive end off balance. The end attempts to reengage, but Bakhtiari does a good job of maintaining his leverage and implementing proper hand placement to ward off the second attempt. The result is a textbook rep.

Not many people realize how much the Packers missed Bakhtiari in the run game, also. He is an elite run blocker, and he showcased that despite minimal snaps against the Lions. In this play, we see an explosive first step from Bakhtiari as he climbs to the strong-side linebacker. Notice how his hips are positioned to create the seal and completely stop the linebacker in his tracks. Bakhtiaris block helps running back AJ Dillon bounce this run outside for a nice 8-yard gain.

Here we see what appears to be a mental mistake by Myers. It appears he should be moving laterally to help Jon Runyan with the two-tech before getting upfield. Instead, Myers rushes and immediately gets vertical to the second level. This puts Runyan in a tough spot as he also has to account for the linebacker looking to fill. Notice how Myers put his hand on the defensive tackles back before moving to the second level. He must have some responsibility when it comes to the Detroit defender but chooses to take an overly aggressive approach.

This was a much better rep on a similar concept. Myers does a nice job trying to cross the face of the three-tech defensive end thanks to an explosive first step. It is an extremely difficult block to execute, and it wasnt perfect by Myers, although it was much better than the previous one.

Myers gets caught off-balance in this pass set. The 0-tech uses a good stab-chop to disengage from Myers. Ideally, I think Myers would like to have a better base under him and implement a strong punch. We see here that the defender easily separates with his hands and applies pressure to the quarterback. Luckily, it was a heads-up play by Runyan, who notices that Myers is beaten. Runyans effort allows Rodgers to navigate the pocket and step into a different pocket to throw from.

Another not-so-great rep from Myers that doesnt end in catastrophe. Again, we see Myers struggle with his initial hand placement as the 0-tech disengages with a strong move. Kudos to Myers, though, for sticking with it. He shows good lateral quickness to get back in phase with the pass rusher and not get called for holding. However, when it comes time for Myers to go against a strong pass-rushing defensive tackle in the playoffs, he may need help.

Initially, I was highlighting Patrick Taylors blitz pickup, but this was also good protection from Myers. We see that the Lions are mugging the A-gaps, which means Myers has to choose who to block. Watch as Myers displays his power, sending the linebacker flying with his punch. Hopefully, Myers will continue to showcase this type of play strength when going against interior guys.

Guard is a familiar spot for Patrick, so the Packers shouldnt be too worried. However, I just wanted to point out this play because it requires an adjustment after going from center to guard. Detroit is running a stunt, which Green Bay does a good job of recognizing. However, Patrick loses sight of his responsibility as right tackle Dennis Kelly has to pick up a late blitz off the edge. It appears that Kelly is expecting Patrick to stay with the three-tech, but Patrick has turned his attention inside to the looper. As a center, you should look to help whoever is struggling in pass protection, but here, Patrick should have focused on his rushing lane. In this case, it would have prevented the sack.

See more here:

Packers film room: David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers return to action - Packers Wire

A Tokyo woman in her 80s fell victim to a scam involving a phone call from a fake family member in distress and was bilked of gold bullion worth about30 million yen ($261,000) and 600,000 yen in cash, according to police.

The woman, who lives in Minato Ward, received a call from a man who identified himself as her son around 11 p.m. on Jan. 7, according to Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department.

The man knew her sons name and profession, police said on Jan. 12, quoting the woman.

I cannot withdraw money because I have lost a bag containing a 'hanko' seal and other items, the caller was quoted as saying. Could you lend me some money?

She believed the caller and mentioned that she keeps gold bullion at her home.

About an hour and half later, a young man showed up at her door, saying he was from the office her son works at.

She gave the young man the bullion and cash for him as she was instructed by the caller whom she had on the line.

But when she called her real son about an hour later, she realized it was a fraud and that the 4 kilograms of bullion and cash were actually stolen.

Police urged residents to hang up the phone immediately when an individual who claims to be a relative calls asking for money and then call the number of that relative to confirm the identity of the caller.

See the original post here:

Elderly Tokyo woman robbed of 30 million yen in gold in scam | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis - Asahi Shimbun

The Monroe County Road Commission will spend more than $7 million to upgrade about 27 miles of primary roads in 15 townships in 2022.

The improvements include hot-mix asphalting and microsurfacing primary streets that have deteriorated over the years due to heavy loads, winter frost and thawing. They are part of the road commissions five-year plan to upgrade primary routes and keep them safe and manageable for motorists.

Construction on the primary roads will begin in the spring, said Dori Hawkins-Freelain, managing director of the road agency. The $7 million includes all improvements planned in 2022 andis similar to what the agency spent in 2021, she said.

The director noted the road agency has done a really good job over the years getting our roads in shape with financial help from the townships.

We work very closely with the townships on both primary and gravel roads, she said Wednesday. We want to continue to maintain these roads with a single stone-chip seal to (extend) the life of the roads. Even an overband crack fill can do that.

The chip sealing and crack fills are less-expensive ways to maintain paved streets.

The road agency gets calls from citizens about deteriorating conditions of some roads and attempts to resolve any concerns or safety issues, Hawkins-Freelain said.

Weve had our normal complaints and are addressing them as we can, she said.

Some townships that had roads resurfaced last year have no major improvements planned in 2022. Other roads in the county will get a lesser treatment of an overband crack fill or single stone-chip seal to maintain the road pavement surface.

Following is a list of 13 of the 15 townships in the county that have some major resurfacing planned this year. The list is available under the countys 5-year Primary Road Plan from 2021-2025 on the road commissions Website (http://www.mcrc-mi.org/constructionprojects.html). All of the road improvements listed are subject to change based on available funding and project costs, the agency said.

Ash Township Maxwell Rd. from Scofield-Carleton Rd. to Carleton West Rd., .74 of a mile, hot-mix asphalt overlay. A single stone chip seal application is planned in 2023.

Bedford Douglas Rd. from Sterns Rd. to Dean Rd., one mile, microsurface; Douglas from Dean to Temperance Rd., one mile, microsurface; Jackman Rd. from Dean to Temperance, one mile, microsurface; Secor Rd. from Summerfield Rd. to Consear Rd., seven tenths of a mile, and St. Anthony Rd. from Summerfield to Secor, 1.12 miles, trench widening and hot-mix overlay.

Dundee -- Brewer Rd. from N. County Line Rd. to Bragg Rd., 1.06 miles, hot-mix asphalt overlay.

Erie -- Temperance Rd. from S. Telegraph Rd. (US24) to Minx Rd., seven tenths of a mile, hot-mix asphalt and mill and fill.

Exeter -- Ostrander Rd. from the township line to Palmer Rd., .25 of a mile, hot-mix asphalt and mill and fill; Scofield-Carleton Rd. from Sumpter Rd. to Martinsville Rd., .74 of a mile, crush and shape and hot-mix asphalt overlay; Scofield-Carleton from Martinsville to Finzel Rd., 1.02 miles, crush and shape and hot-mix asphalt overlay; Sumpter Rd. from Scofield-Carleton Rd. to Shoemaker Rd., nine tenths of a mile, hot-mix asphalt and mill and fill; Sumpter from Shoemaker to S. Stony Creek, .18 of a mile, hot-mix asphalt and mill and fill, and Sumpter from S. Stony Creek to Stout Rd., 1.33 miles, hot-mix asphalt and mill and fill.

Frenchtown -- Dewey Rd. from the end of Pointe aux Peaux Rd., .35 of a mile, hot-mix overlay, and Pointe aux Peaux from N. Dixie Hwy. east, 2.41 miles, hot-mix asphalt overlay.

Ida -- Ida Center Rd. from Douglas to Jackman, one mile, ultrathin, hot-mix asphalt overlay, and Ida Center from Jackman to Lewis, 1.01 miles, ultrathin, hot-mix asphalt overlay.

London -- Ostrander Rd. from Yensch Rd. to Gramlick Rd., 1.53 miles, hot-mix asphalt mill and fill; Ostrander from Gramlick to the township line, 1.23 miles, hot-mix asphalt mill and fill, and Yensch from Day Rd. to Ostrander, 1.03 miles, hot-mix asphalt, scratch course and single chip seal.

Milan -- Dennison Rd. from Day to Couper Rd., 1.5 miles, hot-mix asphalt, multi-overlay; Ridge Rd. from N. County Line Rd. to Hack Rd., .54 of a mile, hot-mix asphalt overlay.

Monroe -- Dunbar Rd. from Herr Rd. to S. Telegraph Rd. (US24), 1.03 miles, trench widening and hot-mix asphalt, mill and fill; Herr Rd. from Dunbar to S. Custer Rd. (M50), .88 of a mile, hot-mix asphalt overlay.

Raisinville -- Yensch Rd. from Stewart Rd. to Day Rd., 1.02 miles, crush and shape and a hot-mix asphalt overlay.

Summerfield -- Ida Center Rd. from Sylvania-Petersburg Rd. to Teal Rd., 1.18 miles, hot-mix asphalt overlay; Ida Center from Teal to Summerfield Rd., .83 of a mile, Single chip seal and a hot-mix asphalt overlay.

Whiteford -- St. Anthony Rd. from US23 to Whiteford Rd., .90 of a mile, trench widening and hot-mix asphalt overlay, and St. Anthony from Whiteford to Summerfield, .97 of a mile, trench widening and hot-mix asphalt overlay.

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Primary roads in 13 townships to get major resurfacing this year - Monroe Evening News

(WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com) Winter is here, which means people are cranking up the heat in their homes.

Pennsylvania has several programs in place to help those in need during the winter months.

TheLow Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)is available for those who qualify. LIHEAP helps families pay their heating bills by sending a one-time payment directly to the utility company/fuel provider to be credited on your bill. Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for crisis grants.

Click here for more information on qualifying and applying for LIHEAP.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding electric customers that the start of the new year is a good time to explore ways to conserve energy and save money including comparing prices for electric generation, evaluating competitive supplier offers and looking at competitive market options such as time-of-use and renewable energy products.

The PUC has some tips for conserving your energy usage this winter:

You can find more tips for saving energy at PAPowerSwitch.com

Energy.gov also has some tips to help you cut energy costs this winter:

Continue reading here:

Tips for saving money on energy bills during the cold weather months; heating assistance available for those in need - YourErie

There are also appearances by Grammy-award winner Seal as the singing seal called Seal Seal, and action legend Dolph Lundgren.

The films co-director Kane Croudace said he resonates with the story and bravery of Quinn on a personal level.

Its about a hero who is brave, stupid and crazy enough to want to do the dangerously impossible. Thats a theme that resonates throughout my working career. Right at the beginning of my time with Triggerfish, we wanted to make a feature film at the bottom of Africa with a totally inexperienced crew, which everyone said was impossible.

Croudace said the film went ahead despite the naysayers and very slim chances of them concluding the project.

We did it anyway. If anyone working at a proper studio had seen our workflows on Adventures In Zambezia, they would have given 150/1 odds against us finishing it. But shielded by our stupidity and bravado, we managed to do it and weve got better with each subsequent project. I think Quinns attitude to the task ahead is mirrored in our tenacity in getting these films made, said Croudace.

The Triggerfish productions Adventures in Zambezia and Khumba sold nine million cinema tickets globally and placed them in the five biggest box office hits from Africa.

Other productions by the company include animating the Oscar-nominated Roald Dahl adaptation Revolting Rhymes as well as four Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler adaptations, including the 2021 Annie Award winner The Snail and the Whale and the 2020 International Emmy-winning Zog, all originally produced by London-based production company Magic Light Pictures.

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SA animated film Seal Team makes top 10 most-watched shows on Netflix in 27 countries - TimesLIVE

Mondelz International has launched a portion control packaging format for its Cadbury Duos range.

The new Twist Wrap features a portion control mechanism, allowing consumers to twist to seal and save half for later.

Described as a first for a chocolate brand in the UK, the new packaging is made using a memory technology solution, meaning the wrapper stays twisted by a single twist, which Cadbury says preserves fresh flavour, texture and shape.

The new bars will start to appear from the end of January, with the packaging to be rolled out across five members of the Cadbury Duos portfolio: Cadbury Wispa, Cadbury Wispa Gold, Cadbury Boost, Cadbury Double Decker, and Cadbury Dairy Milk.

The innovation is part of Mondelz Internationals commitment to helping promote healthier snacking, with a focus on portion control seen as an effective way of supporting people in balancing their calorie intake.

Kelly Lawrence, Brand Manager for Cadbury at Mondelz International, said: Following good results during concept testing, were excited to announce the new packaging this year, allowing shoppers to indulge in a sweet treat then easily reseal and save the remainder of the product for later.

Weve put a lot of time and investment into portionable packaging as a way of empowering consumers to snack in a more mindful way, and we are excited to see what shoppers think.

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New Portion-Controlled Packaging Introduced To Cadbury Range - Namnews

New York, Jan. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

The new year is here and what better way to celebrate than learning how to make an elevated infused cocktail! Russian Standard Vodka has teamed up with Ovente to create delicious, decadent, and unique infused drinks to sip on all year long.

Since Russian Standard Vodka is made with the finest ingredients, including winter wheat that survives Russian winter and glacial water from Lake Ladoga its extra hardy! Being distilled over 200 times and filtered through birch charcoal you dont have to choose between purity and taste, you get both with Russian Standard. Plus its gluten-free! Ovente Housewares has created a brewing method like none other with their French Press Coffee and Tea Maker. Its one of the top gadgets rolling into this year for extracting all the oils and flavors that are packed in the ingredients added. Did you know a french press can be used for more than just coffee and tea? You can infuse anything from water to liquor, the options are endless and completely customizable to your life. Raise your Standards in beverage making this year with Russian Standard and Ovente!

Spice up any vodka night with one of the delicious cocktails below:Spiced Cranberry Vodka Infusion:1 bottle (750 ml) of Russian Standard vodka34 oz Ovente French press1 cup dry organic cranberries2 cinnamon sticks6 allspice berries4 scent cloves4 star anise pods

Russian Standard Cocoa Cafe Infusion1 bottle (750 ml) of Russian Standard vodka34 oz Ovente French press.1/2 cup coarsely ground espresso beans1/2 cup coarsely ground cocoa beans1 whole vanilla beanPeel of a whole lemon1/2 cup brown sugar

On @momma_gloriaa Instagram you can see her create a one of a kind spiced cranberry vodka fusion! Also @sipssocial took it up a notch with their peppermint espresso martini cocktail for the holidays. And thanks to the gift that keeps on giving@calltheshotsbartender created a delicious holiday beverage with her Ovente french press! Ready to create your own infused cocktails all year long? Head to Ovente.com or Amazon to pick out your French Press today. Follow @Ovente and @RussianStandardVodka to learn more and receive updates!

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Try Something New This Year: Infused Cocktails At Home With - GlobeNewswire

Im very happy to finally be getting into proper chapters in Lord of Chaos, and its really interesting to see where Rand is and how much hes grown as a channeler and a leader. Were covering Chapters One-Three today, and we finally get to meet a character weve heard a lot aboutMazrim Taim. Hes quite something, too.

I do just want to mention, as I believe I did several books ago, that theres an inherent ableism in the language used around the taint. I try to avoid words like mad and insane in my own language, since theyre historically stigmatizing to mental illness, but its too built into the world to avoid entirely. That kind of adjustment in how we speak was only starting to be a conversation when Jordan was writing these books, and there are so many words whose roots go back to oppression or stigmaits taken my 90s child brain forever to purge the word lame from my vocabularyso I just want to acknowledge the problem here before I continue.

And now, on to the recap.

A wind blows across the war-ravaged landscape of Cairhien and the hot, drought-damaged fields of Andor. It stirs the banners over the Royal Palace in Caemlyn, one red and bearing the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai, the other white and bearing the golden serpent of the Dragon.

Among the colonnades, Rand battles with practice swords against five men. He takes out four but the last manages to strike him on the head. Rand has the maidens pay his opponents for their service. He endures the compliments and brown-nosing from the nobles who were watching the fight, aware that they were all toadies to Lord Gaebril and irritated by their attempts to play the Game of Houses.

Davram Bashere interrupts to ask why Rand, being who he is, bothers practicing with the sword at all. To illustrate his point he hurls a dagger at Rand, who stops it in midair with saidin and commands the Aiel and the Andorans not to attack Bashere. Rand is filled with cold rage, but it fades as Bashere remains composed, and points out that Rand is too well protected by the Aiel and Basheres horseman for anything human to get close to him. He supposes the Dragon can do as he pleases, but reminds Rand that too much depends on him to risk getting his skull split open in a practice fight.

Rands thoughts are interrupted by Lews Therins, and he clutches his head, worrying Bashere and the others in the courtyard. The stronger Rand has become in saidin, the stronger Lews Therins thoughts in his head have become, and the harder he has to fight to keep them from taking him over. Bashere wishes they had an Aes Sedai to help with what he assumes is an injury from the sparring match and Rand points out that he cant trust the Aes Sedai. Bashere snorts.

However hard your head is, sooner or later youll have to trust Aes Sedai. Without them, youll never bring all the nations behind you short of conquest. People look for such things. However many of the Prophecies they hear youve fulfilled, many will wait for the Aes Sedai to put their stamp on you.

Rand argues that the Whitecloaks wont give up Amadicia in any case, and that theres still Sammael to deal with in Illian. The mention of the Forsaken causes one woman to faint and others among the Andoran nobility to look pale and sick. Bashere is unruffled, and continues to press Rand about trusting the Aes Sedai until Rand suggests that there are hundreds of Aes Sedai ready to support him. Bashere is shocked to realize that the Towers split is real, though he points out that the rebels wont carry the same authority in peoples eyes as the Tower does.

Just then, one of Basheres man arrives in the courtyard to report to his commander that a man has arrived at the gates who claims to be Mazrim Taim. Bashere grips his sword hilt and the Andorans get worked up all over again, but Rand reminds them firmly of his amnesty.

Whatever Taim had done in Saldaea, he could not afford to turn away a man who could channel, a man who would not have to be taught from the first steps. He needed such a man. He would turn away no one except one of the Forsaken, not unless he was forced to. Demandred and Sammael, Semirhage and Mesaana, Asmodean andRand forced Lews Therin down; he could not afford distractions now.

Rand sends the Andorans away and Bashere has Mazrim Taim brought in. Rand looks him over as Taim approaches, considering that Taim has managed to hold the madness at bay for ten or fifteen years. Just then Lews Therin leaps in Rands mind, shouting about how Sammael and Demandred hated him and for Rand to kill Taim. Rand has to struggle against the thought, reminding himself that hes Rand alThor until Lews Therin finally retreats.

Bashere doesnt recognize Taim, prompting the man to explain I shaved and to reference battles they fought against each other.

Rand intervenes, asking if Taim came to see him or to taunt Bashere. Taim says he saw Rand fighting the Dark One in the sky and if he should call Rand my Lord Dragon. Rand lectures Taim on the dangers of the Forsaken and gives examples of horrible things that they have done, things besides which Taims crimes are nothing. He hopes the hostile Saldaeans guarding Taim are taking it all in as well.

And now youve come to accept my pardon, to walk in the Light and submit to me, to battle the Dark One as hard as you ever battled anyone. The Forsaken are reeling; I mean to hunt them all down, eradicate them. And you will help me. For that, youve earned your pardon. I tell you true, youll probably earn it a hundred times over again before the Last Battle is done.

Rand is surprised when Taim submits quickly, dropping to one knee and promising to serve and obey. When questioned, the man simply says that he has no other choicehell be lucky to leave the city alive, and even if he does the Aes Sedai are still looking for him. He points out that he could have been the Dragon, but that since he cant have that glory, hell settle for whatever pieces fall his way, standing at Rands right hand.

Rand asks if Taim can teach men to channel, and if he knows how to test a man to see if he can be taught, and Taim answers that he can do both. But he cant tell Rand how he has managed not to go mad after all this timehe just has. Rand wonders privately if Taim might be more mad than he appears, if his bravery in the face of the danger posed by Bashere, the soldiers, and the Maidens is real, feigned, or a kind of madness itself. Taim tells Rand that he has brought him a token of trust, and hands over one of the cuendillar seals. Rand can tell its brittle enough to break in his hands, and realizes that there are now three broken and three in his possession.

Lews Therins voice came up like thunder. Break it break them all must break them must must must break them all break them and strike must strike quickly must strike now break it break it break it

It takes tremendous effort to shove Lews Therin down again, and then Rand realizes that hes muttering break it to himself and has the seal raised over his head, ready to be thrown to the ground and shattered. The only thing stopping him is Bashere holding his arms. Bashere murmurs in Rands ear that he doesnt know what the thing is but that Rand should probably wait a bit before breaking it. Rand agrees, and notices the shock on Taims face. Taim explains that it was given to him by a farmer in Saldaea, who claimed that his family were once nobles under Artur Hawkwing and have been guarding it for thousands of years.

Rand gives the seal to Bashere, who, realizing what it is, promises to keep it safe until Rand requires it. Rand asks the man why he isnt afraid of Rand going mad like the others, and Bashere tells him a story about a general he once followed who was basically insane but still the greatest general Bashere ever knew, one who never lost a battle.

Rand laughed. So you follow me because you think I can out-general the Dark One?

I follow you because you are who you are, Bashere said quietly. The world must follow you, or those who survive will wish themselves dead.

Rand understands, even without the Prophecies to say he must bind the lands together, he knows that it wont just be him and the Dark One having a solitary battle together; Tarmon Gaidon will include every Shadowspawn and every Darkfriend, and plenty of unforeseen dangers as well. He tells Bashere that he is going to take Taim to the farm, and that he will be back later to inspect Basheres troops.

He takes up his sword, the one Aviendha gave him with the golden dragon on the hilt, and the Seanchan spear. Lews Therin screams at him to kill Taim as the man asks where Rand is taking him.

Rand opens a gateway and Enaila and a few of the other Maidens veil themselves and leap through. He tells Taim that he can show him how to make one and they step through, followed by the rest of the Maidens. Rand hears Aviendhas voice asking him to wait and lets the gateway snap closed abruptly. None of the Maidens say anything to him about it, but they communicate in handtalk and he knows its about him.

Rand ignores their curiosity and disapproval and sets out through the trees. He begins lecturing Taim on the Forsaken and the other dangers he will encounter while serving Rand, including the bubbles of evil that rise up from the Dark One into the Pattern. Hes pleased to learn that Taim has never heard of balefirethats one thing Rand doesnt want anyone to be taught.

They reach a farm in the woods where they find the twenty seven men who have answered Rands summons, many of whom have their family with them. Most are quite young, though there are some with gray hair as well. Taim is dismissive of the lot, then surprised to learn that Rand doesnt know how to test them. Still, Rand is firm that the work is important, and that he doesnt have time to do it himself, so they step forward and Rand introduces Taim as their new teacher. Some of the men appear excited, others hesitant. Rand tells them that any of them are allowed to leave before they learn to channel, but that once they do they are the same as any soldier. He speaks of the dangers to come, carefully picking his words as he points out that the dangers coming will reach everyone, soldier or no, and then urges them to at least find out if they can channel before they go.

Taim creates a flame, lecturing out loud as he works so that Rand can follow without admitting his own ignorance. He creates a flame and has the first man, a former Queens Guardsman name Damer Flinn, concentrate on it. He seems to be listening for something, so Rand listens too. Ten minutes pass.

Suddenly Rand felt it. The resonance. A small thing, a tiny echo of the minuscule flow of Power pulsing in Taim, but this seemed to come from Damer. It had to be what Taim meant, but Taim did not move. Perhaps there was more, or maybe this was not what Rand thought.

After another minute or two Taim lets go of saidin and tells Damer that he can learn, and that he wouldnt be surprised if all of the men can, since Rand seems to have a ridiculous amount of luck. Rand, meanwhile, is surprised that he detected the resonance before Taim. Rand reminds Taim of the trust he is putting in himthe word stirs up Lews Therin againand says that hell come back tomorrow to check on his progress.

Taim runs after him, however, clearly irritated and telling Rand that if he stays he can learn the test. Rand counters that he already picked up on it, and that yes, he does mean to make this all Taims job. He tells Taim to teach them all quickly, as quickly as they can possibly learn, especially anything that can be used to fight, and the test itself. He needs to find more. He speaks again of their enemies, thinking not only of the Shadowspawn and the Forsaken but also of Whitecloaks and Black Ajah.

I am going to defeat them, Taim. All of them. They think they can tear everything down. Its always tearing down, never building up! Im going to build something, leave something behind. Whatever happens, I will do that! Ill defeat the Dark One. And cleanse saidin, so men dont have to fear going mad, and the world doesnt have to fear men channeling. Ill

He stops himself, shocked that he would consider something so impossible. Changing subjects, he warns Taim to keep an eye out for anyone who seems to be learning too quickly. Then he orders Taim to seize as much of saidin as he can hold. It doesnt seem much short of what Rand can manage himself, and he finds himself wondering if Taim is holding back.

Then he realizes that he himself is also filled with the One Power, that hes even drawing more using the angreal in his pocket. Lews Therin is back, screaming for Rand to kill Taim, and Rand isnt sure which of them seized saidin. He shouts at Lews Therin, and is surprised when the voice shuts up immediately. He warns Taim again to keep an eye out, and quietly, and Taim bows to him, agreeing to do as the Lord Dragon commands.

When hes gone, the Maidens fuss over Rand exerting himself and spending too much time in the sun, and Rand endures it as something he owes these women who will be put in harms way for him, and to whom he represents so many children born to Maidens and given up. Enaila gives him a spare shoufa, and Jalani teases him for sweating too much.

He decides not to go back to Bashere and the inspection just yet, because he doesnt want to face Aviendha. He decides to pay his planned visit to Weiramon now, and opens another gateway into a tent and the Maidens step through. Rand glances back, noticing the relief on one wifes face as she consoles a man who did not turn out to have the ability to channel, and the way another is staring right at him. Then he steps through the gateway, reminding himself that he does what he has to do.

Now that were out of the Prologue and into the story proper, Lord of Chaos has wasted no time in reminding us of one of the main themes of The Wheel of Time: Everybody has an agenda. Rands even paying people extra if they manage to hit him in the sword practice to make sure that the men he faces are honest about their skills. Its fascinating to see Taims perspective on why he wanted to be the Dragon after everything weve watched Rand go through, first as he tried to resist the inevitable, then as he accepted his fate and all the pain that comes with it. Rand has had to learn that being a general means sacrifices, that he cant fight a war on his own, and that getting involved with the world inevitably means getting involved with politics. But where Rand sees pain, sacrifice, and becoming hard, Taim apparently sees glory. Bashere reminds Rand that the last person to resist the Aes Sedai was Artur Hawkwing, and one wonders if Taim thought similarly, if he reflected on the old legends about that time and dreamed that someone would tell those sorts of stories about him one day. Maybe he always accepted the bigger picture, that uniting the world means war and death and that never really bothered him. He clearly has some disdain for Rands recruits, calling them pathetic dregs and probably didnt care much about the casualties suffered by footsoldiers and others that Taim deemed beneath him.

I can see why Rand feels like he doesnt like the guy. I wonder if Taim comes from a privileged background, or if its merely his ability as a channeler that drives himself to this perspective. Ive always wondered what makes the false Dragons want to declare themselves; we know that the Pattern tends to spin out more of them when its ready to spin out the Dragon himself, but its not clear if the False Dragons are somehow compelled by the Pattern to believe that they really are the Dragon Reborn or if its just a vanity project. I can certainly see that there might be a few people vainglorious enough to claim the title, but given how basically everyone feels about the Dragon Reborn, it seems like most men who realized they could channel would want to stay very far away from such a claim.

Im also curious about why Lews Therin is so against Taim. I mean, theres a lot of questions there. We can tell at this point that it really is Lews Therin in Rands mind, or at least a factually accurate representation of him. And while Lews Therin is certainly a symptom of what the taint is doing to Rands mind, it seems a bit like Lews Therins personality is a bit mad, as well. The only question is if this is taint-induced madness or just grief-induced. What does Lews Therin see when Rand looks at Taim? Would he see Demandred and Sammael in any man who could channel, or is there something more about Taim, his attitude and his ambition, thats putting Lews Therins hackles up? Obviously Rand shouldnt go around smashing seals and killing other male channelers, but is Lews Therin completely detached from Rands reality, seeing only his own story and his own pain, or is he genuinely trying to protect Rand in some way? He has a lot of knowledge and experience that Rand lacks, after all. So I suppose only time will tell.

I know why Im against Taim, though. Theres that bit when hes taunting Bashere and he references two men and their wives who came to him under a flag of truce and then tried to kill him. He says that Bashere hushed up what happened to those four, and that he hopes Bashere found them some work as servants since, [a]ll theyll really want to do now is serve and obey and they wont be happy otherwise. That sounds a lot like compulsion or something similar, and speaks to a worrying vindictive streak. Good guys might employ compulsion out of necessity, but surely Taim could have stopped them in a number of other ways. I suppose its possible that some part of what he did to them was instinctual, and maybe he doesnt know how to undo it, but it feels like he brings it up just to throw it in Basheres face, and the way his tone is so matter-of-fact makes it feel even more deliberate than if he was openly mocking.

But Taim is hardly the only person with an agenda. It didnt even occur to me that the only nobility left in Caemlyn would be those loyal to Gaebril. Maybe a few of them feel the way Tallanvor does; maybe a few missed his manipulation of her (no one could have known he was using compulsion, after all) and thought that Morgase really had become a petty jerk who was neglecting her duties and decided to side with Gaebril, but what he did was still usurpation, and once Morgase disappeared that would have been an unignorable red flag. So these guys are more like the Tairen nobility, two-faced and ambitious, and unlikely to hold any real loyalty for anyone. Which is really a pity for Rand, who could probably benefit from having Morgases friends around. But then if they were, he wouldnt have needed to take over Andor at all.

He does have Bashere, though, and I already love the guy. He seems to be one of the most level-headed characters weve encountered, and he fits with everything weve heard about him from Faile. I often (like super often, because I love it) praise Jordans execution of dramatic irony, and this is an especially enjoyable moment of it because its not a stressful one. Instead of a moment where the reader knows something that would save a character from stress or harm, its just a fun little detail that Rands hanging out with Perrins super awesome father-in-law, and Perrin married Basheres super awesome daughter, and none of them know it. I cant wait for Perrin to show up, answering Rands taveren tug, with Faile by his side. Does Bashere even know that Faile became a hunter for the Horn? And now shes married to one of the Dragons best friends who is also a wolf brother. Man, that father-daughter reunion is going to be epic.

Taveren tug? Thats not Thats almost as bad as taint madness. Im not gonna call it that again.

But thank goodness Bashere showed up when he did, because Rands lost both Moiraine and Lan and is really hurting for an advisor. The sense of loss he feels over Moiraines death, and over Lans leaving is subtle but clear. Hes not just practicing the sword to clear his mind, hes also doing it to feel closer to Lan. And its kind of strange to see him acknowledge Moiraine as an Aes Sedai he trusted after he spent most of the novels fighting her and being afraid of the strings that she might put on him. Putting aside the message that the way a woman gains a mans trust is through perfect submission, which isnt a part of the story I particularly care for, I feel a little robbed of all the moments they must have shared after she agreed to do things his way and he started welcoming her advice. Jordan does a great job managing the complexities of his plot and still leaving room for character development, but Im disappointed that we didnt get to see Rand and Moiraine develop a friendship.

Thats another reason I wish Perrin would hurry up and get back to Rand. Other than Mat, who has his whole Mat issues, Rand doesnt have anyone he feels like he can trust and rely on. His Aiel generals are spread out on whatever missions Rand has been sending them on (I believe well get more information on that in the next chapter) and he has too many complicated feelings about the Maidens to feel comfortable around him, though he does trust that they will obey him and keep him safe. Perrin would be an excellent person to have by his side, someone steady and dependable who has experienced the kind of burden Rand is carrying, albeit on a smaller scale. Somehow I feel things wont be that simple, but Id like them to be. Just once. For poor Rands sake.

Speaking of Mat, Im super curious whats going on with this plan re Weiramon and the inspection of Basheres troops. At least I think its just one plan, though the narration is so vague I didnt even know how to put it in the summary.

There are a lot of interesting moments in here where we see the way Rands approach to what hes doing, his understanding and opinions about how to be the Dragon and a leader, differs from those who have held the reins of the world until now. For example, Rand has specific views on prophecies, believing that they set the conditions that must be met in order for a thing to happen, but that they dont guarantee that the thing will happen. I think this is a really good setup on Jordans part, combining the reincarnation and predestination aspects of his worldbuilding with a focus on free will and the burden of choice that Rand and our other heroes face.

We also see better logic from Rand than we do from Pedron Niall. He doesnt think hes more than a man either, even though hes a powerful one with a prophesied destiny. He also believes its going to be a huge battle against Shadowspawn and Darkfriends, and like Niall, recognizes that its only by uniting against them that humanity stands a chance. But that just reinforces that other people are important, not that the Dragon Reborn isnt real or that all channelers are Darkfriends. Rand has managed to take a holistic view of the world, rather than needing to ignore what doesnt fit the way he wants it too.

And then theres my favorite example, which is that hes telling everyone that the Forsaken are loose and in the world, and is even honest that he knows where Sammael is. Theres a lot of compassion in the choice to be transparent about this, even though it is also a calculated move. Rand knows that the Aes Sedai dont want to share that truth for fear of spreading chaos and panic, but he believes that it will be worse if people dont have a chance to overcome that panic rather than being confronted by the revelation in a desperate moment. It shows that Rand has a faith in people that the Aes Sedai dont share. Both point of views are understandable, given where they come from, but I think Rands is the right one. People have a right to know what they face, all people, not just the powerful few at the top.

And perhaps that is why the prophecies speak of the Dragon Reborn sundering ties and sowing chaos. There are too many old structures that are no longer good for the worldthe isolation of the Aes Sedai from the people they serve, the long-held animosity between nations, the hierarchy and power structures designed to favor High Lords and keep everyone else in poverty. All these things make the world weaker, and its Rands monumental task to somehow undo all these ties and find a better way.

Just like he has to find a way to train male Aes Sedai.

Maybe Rand needs to team up with Nynaeve She wants to Heal stilling; he wants to find a way to fix the taint. And we know that men and women working together makes channeling stronger than it can ever be with just one side working alone. And thats how they made the Eye of the World, right? Somehow they filtered the taint out of saidin, which makes me wonder if the filter couldnt be put on backwards, as it were, filtering the saidin before a man touches it rather than after. But I think its going to be a long time before anything like that is even attempted. Meanwhile, Rand is going to head off to check on the forces hes massing to attack Illian and Sammael.

Final thoughts and fun moments:

Sylas K Barrett has been watching a lot of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and keeps picturing Davram Bashere as Julian Bashere which is really quite hilarious.

Go here to see the original:

Reading The Wheel of Time: Taim, a Seal, and a Farm in Robert Jordan's Lord of Chaos (Part 4) - tor.com