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From 1971 until 1974‚ Bob Welch stood front and center in Fleetwood Mac after replacing Jeremy Spencer. Fans who’ve followed Fleetwood Mac’s career since their original formation in 1967 will recall Bob Welch’s contribution as a lead singer that brought forth a string of hits during the first half of the 1970s. What are the top ten Bob Welch songs as a Fleetwood Mac contributor that come to mind from that list? Do they match our list? Let’s find out. What About Bob Bob Welch was born and raised in Hollywood‚ California‚ on August 21‚ 1945. As a child growing The post The Forgotten Pioneer: Bob Welch’s Role in Fleetwood Mac appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Our Top 10 Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac Songs looks at the time period between September 1971 and September 1974 when Bob Welch was a member of Fleetwood Mac. During his years with Fleetwood Mac‚ Bob Welch recorded five albums with the group. These included Future Games (1972)‚ Bare Trees (1973)‚ Penguin  (1973)‚ Mystery to Me (1974)‚ and Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974). These were the years between the original Fleetwood Mac blues years and the mega-selling Nicks Buckingham years. It’s a period that is often overlooked in the band’s history. That’s a shame because the albums that Welch released with The post Top 10 Bob Welch Fleetwood Mac Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

A hoard of bronze jewelry was found along with the remains of dozens of humans in a dried-up lakebed in Poland. The amazing find bears witness to rapid advancement in the understanding of the CheÅ‚mno group’s ceremonial behavior‚ and shows how some people had jewelry interred with them—after they themselves were buried. The CheÅ‚mno were […] The post Hoard of Bronze Jewelry Found in Polish Lake Reveals Ancient Celtic Water Burial Ritual appeared first on Good News Network.

Is your dog panting and restless when the night falls? This behavior can signal anything from anxiety to underlying health issues. We’ll guide you through potential causes and what steps you can take to ease your furry friend’s discomfort. Key Takeaways Reasons Why Your Dog May Be Panting and Restless at Night Heart Disease Heart... Why is My Dog Restless and Panting at Night?

The post 8 Household Items That Are Toxic to Cats (Vet Answer) by Dr. Joe Mallat appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Yes‚ some cats have a propensity for laziness. But all cats are inquisitive creatures by nature‚ and you can bet that your cat has explored every corner of the home at some point in time. Unfortunately‚ many household plants‚ items‚ cleaning products‚ and foods are harmful to cats. It can be hard‚ or even impossible‚ to train a cat not to eat things. Therefore‚ preventing their access to them is important; this may involve either keeping harmful items locked away or not keeping them in the house at all. But first‚ you need to know what to be careful of. Below is a summary of the eight most common household items that can be toxic to cats. The 8 Household Items That Are Toxic to Cats 1. Lilies Image Credit: ignartonosbg‚ Pixabay Unfortunately‚ lily toxicity in cats is relatively common. These plants are striking‚ readily available in many parts of the world‚ and very popular. However‚ they are also extremely dangerous to cats. All parts of the lily‚ including the stems‚ leaves‚ and flowers‚ are toxic to cats. Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum)‚ Stargazer lilies (Lilium Stargazer hybrid)‚ and Asiatic lilies (Lilium asiaticum) seem to be the most hazardous. The toxin in lilies has not yet been identified‚ but we do know that it can cause life-threatening kidney disease. Some cats can make a recovery‚ but others remain in lifelong kidney failure or even need to be euthanized. If you have a cat‚ never keep lilies in your house or garden—the risks are too high. 2. Human Medications Image Credit: Kwangmoozaa‚ Shutterstock Many medications used to make people feel better do the opposite to cats. Remember‚ these drugs and medications were designed for (and studied in) humans. The physiology of cats‚ as well as their significantly lesser body weight‚ means that they cannot metabolize human medications. The most common over-the-counter medications that are harmful to cats are paracetamol (Tylenol)‚ aspirin‚ and ibuprofen (Advil). These are common brand names only—many other brands exist. You may need to keep these pain relief medications in the house for your own use‚ but always keep them stowed away in a lockable cabinet or cupboard. 3. Car Antifreeze Image Credit: zedspider‚ Shutterstock Ethylene glycol is the active ingredient in most automotive antifreeze products. Antifreeze works by stopping the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing during the winter months. Antifreeze is odorless and sweet-tasting. It is also extremely harmful to cats—as little as one-eighth of a teaspoon can cause toxicity. Initially‚ cats appear lethargic‚ uncoordinated‚ and often vomit—these are the signs of being “drunk” as antifreeze is technically a type of alcohol. Shortly after this‚ cats appear to improve‚ which can trick owners into thinking everything is okay. Then‚ 12–24 hours after ingestion‚ kidney damage begins and irreversible kidney failure may occur. 4. Batteries and Magnets Image Credit: Nor Gal‚Shutterstock We don’t fully understand why a cat would eat a metal object‚ but it happens. Button batteries‚ also known as coin batteries or button cells‚ can pose a problem to cats if they get stuck in the esophagus or stomach. Magnets can also be problematic‚ particularly if two are ingested. Why? A magnet sitting in one loop of the bowel can attract a magnet elsewhere in the bowels‚ pulling these loops of intestines together. Each magnet will then be pressed with great force against the wall of the intestine in an effort to stay attached to the other magnet. This leads to perforation of the intestines; food then escapes the bowels and causes infection in the abdomen‚ which is life-threatening. 5. String and Hair Ties Image Credit: sweetlouise‚ Pixabay Some fabric materials can be harmful to cats. Cats love string because they see it as prey; it gives them a chance to express some of their feline instincts. However‚ if a cat eats a long enough piece of string‚ it can act as what vets call a “linear foreign body”. These are long pieces of fabric that get stuck in the digestive tract‚ causing bunching of the bowels as they contract in an effort to pass the material. Hair ties‚ on the other hand‚ are more perplexing. For reasons largely unknown‚ many cats will eat hair ties. These can sit in the stomach and accumulate (if the cat keeps eating them) until they form a blockage. Ingested string and hair ties should be removed either surgically or endoscopically (camera-guided). 6. Foods Image Credit: Josep Monter Martinez‚ Pixabay We’re not here to tell you that you can’t have chocolate in your home—just that you should keep it away from your cat. In addition to chocolate‚ which causes vomiting‚ diarrhea‚ heart problems‚ and seizures‚ there are other foods that must be kept away from your cat. Garlic and onions cause anemia. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney problems. Alcohol‚ raw eggs‚ and raw meat should all be avoided too. 7. Cleaning products Image Credit: Michael-T‚ Pixabay Just about every cleaning product you can think of can be harmful to your cat. These are highly chemical formulas that were not designed with cats in mind. Again‚ we’re not here to tell you that you can’t clean your house‚ but that you should use caution when you use cleaning products. Bleach‚ oven cleaner‚ detergent‚ mold-removal liquids‚ ammonia-hydroxide—all of these and more can cause a wide range of ailments in your cat if licked or eaten. If you are using these products‚ make sure your cat is kept away until the product is completely dry; ensure that any spills are cleaned up and that the bottles are kept sealed. 8. Rat Bait Image Credit: speedshutter Photography‚ Shutterstock Rat bait‚ known in the vet world as a rodenticide‚ can cause life-threatening bleeding disorders if eaten by your cat. Rodenticides are designed to kill rats: the rat nibbles on the bait and then develops a blood clotting disorder. The problem lies in the fact that rat bait can cause this same clotting disorder in cats. Most cats have enough reserve of clotting factors to be okay for two days after ingestion‚ but then‚ as they start to bleed (often internally)‚ they show signs of being unwell. If you have a cat (or dog)‚ we recommend using rat traps and repellents instead of baits. Conclusion Keeping your cat away from potentially harmful household items can seem like a daunting task. The purpose of the above list is not to instill fear‚ but to familiarize you with common materials‚ foods‚ and objects that pose a health risk to cats. Some of these‚ such as medications‚ magnets‚ and food‚ are reasonable to keep at home while exercising caution. Others‚ including lilies and rat bait‚ should probably be avoided altogether. Different items will cause different signs of illness‚ so if you have any concerns about your cat’s health‚ do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. Sources https://www.dvm360.com/view/treating-cats-poisoned-by-lilies https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/rodenticide-warfarin-poisoning-in-cats https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/ethylene-glycol-toxicosis/ethylene-glycol-toxicosis-in-animals   Featured Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock The post 8 Household Items That Are Toxic to Cats (Vet Answer) by Dr. Joe Mallat appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Rereads and Rewatches Brandon Sanderson Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-Seven to Fifty-Nine Paige and Lyndsey cover the Sanderlanche… By Lyndsey Luther‚ Paige Vest | Published on February 1‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed This is quite the week‚ Cosmere Chickens. The Sanderlanche is in full effect: Betrayals! Revelations! Secrets and war and death‚ oh my! All of this and more awaits you in this week’s installment of the Elantris Reread. Once again‚ my faithful cohort Paige and I are joined—sort of –by Past!Brandon‚ speaking to us from the annals of history. (That’s a fancy-pants way of saying that we’re using some quotes from his 2006 annotations of Elantris in order to broaden the depth of our reread and to shed some additional light on aspects of the book you might not even be aware of‚ like deleted scenes‚ character backstories‚ and story-crafting stuff.) There’s a lot to delve into this week‚ and I do mean a lot‚ so pull up a chair and join us‚ and try not to let the dark events get you down. Remember…things are always darkest before the dawn. (Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly‚ chickens! Trigger warnings: War‚ body modification‚ genocide. Last time on Elantris: Romance and Revelations… Now that Sarene (and everyone else) finally know that Raoden’s NOT dead‚ we get some lovey-dovey time between the two of them before they realize that Telrii’s been killed. There’s a power vacuum…and only one man can fill it! However‚ Dilaf’s not about to let Raoden seize the throne quite that easily. He (somehow) dispels the illusion that Raoden has been using to mask his appearance‚ revealing Raoden’s Elantrian nature to the entire throne room. Sarene saves the day‚ however‚ with a smooth speech that wins the people over to his side regardless of how he looks. Chapter Essentials POV Character(s): Sarene‚ Raoden‚ Hrathen Discussion Chapter 57 Hrathen eyed this pretender‚ feeling an odd surge of hatred as he saw the way that Sarene looked at the man. Hrathen could see the love in her eyes. Could that foolish adoration really be serious? L: Look at that green-eyed monster coming out! Watch out‚ Hrathen. Your jealous side is showing… P: You almost feel sorry for him. Outmaneuvered—not once but twice!—and‚ apparently a bit heartsick. I didn’t want Hrathen’s affection for Sarene to ever be overt in the book. He’s not a man of passions‚ and I think he would be very good at keeping his interest unacknowledged‚ even in his own thoughts. …. We only get a few small clues as to his attraction to Sarene‚ and this chapter probably has the most of those.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson Back to the text: Hrathen’s own relationship with the girl had been one of antagonism‚ not of affection. Why should he be jealous of another man? No‚ Hrathen needed to be levelheaded. L: Oh dear. Love is rarely level-headed‚ nor logical‚ when it chooses to pounce on us. I almost—almost—feel bad for him. P: Great minds think alike‚ Lyndsey! That was exactly my thought above! And you’re spot on about love being neither level-headed nor logical. It’s often cruel and unforgiving. He’s found a woman whom he considers his equal–the fact that she is of a heretic religion would only make her more appealing‚ I think. Hrathen is attracted to challenges‚ and Sarene is nothing if not challenging.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Challenging in a lot of ways. I wonder what the women of Fjorden are like…? We never get any hints or clues as to what women’s place in their society is‚ so we don’t know just how different Sarene is from the women that Hrathen’s used to encountering. But I’m willing to bet that she’s far more bullheaded and competent than any woman Hrathen’s ever met. P: And he seems to like it. Hrathen was shocked by the transformation‚ but he was even more shocked when the people of Arelon did nothing about it. Sarene gave her speech‚ and people just stood dully. They did not stop her from crowning the Elantrian king. L: Gods forbid the people should judge someone based on their worth rather than what they are. P: It was surprising to me how they accepted him‚ too‚ but not as surprising as it was for Hrathen‚ knowing how much the people loved Raoden before he disappeared. Three months was not enough time to build a stable following. L: Well‚ he’s right there. Building trust and loyalty within a community‚ whether it be religious or any other type‚ takes time. P: Three months is absolutely not enough time‚ especially when it comes to people’s lifelong religious beliefs. A hundred torches winked into existence from within dozens of different tents. L: Oop. Remember all those merchants who were mysteriously sticking around? Well… guess now we know why: That was why so many Fjordells had come to the Arelene Market despite the political chaos‚ and that was why they had stayed when others left. They weren’t merchants at all‚ but warriors. The invasion of Arelon was to begin a month early. P: Ugh‚ this must feel like a massive betrayal to Hrathen. He spends months trying to convert people to his religion only to find that an invasion was already planned. Ah‚ and Hrathen’s three month timebomb. It’s always nice when you can have a timebomb go off early.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Very clever trick‚ Past!Brandon. Build up the reader’s expectations and tension towards a specific deadline‚ then break that self-imposed deadline and make it happen earlier in order to surprise them. P: Starting this Sanderlanche off with a bang! Hrathen stumbled back in horror. He knew those twisted figures. Arms like knotted tree branches. Skin pulled tight over strange ridges and unspeakable symbols. L: That’s certainly a grotesque mental image. The Dakhor monks‚ known as the Order of Bone‚ aren’t playing around. As a reminder‚ Hrathen was trained at a different monastery—Ghajan‚ specifically—as a simple soldier. And we’ve seen how terrifyingly effective he is. So for him to be frightened of these monks…they must be as diabolical as they appear. P: A grotesque and horrifying mental image. The thought of those creatures slaughtering innocent and defenseless townspeople is just awful. L: Brandon’s got a cool thing he does with the structure of the story here that I’d like to talk about briefly. After this last Hrathen chapter‚ I have the triad system break down completely. It’s supposed to be a subtle indication of the chaos of these last few chapters.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: I really love it when he does things like this. He did something similar in A Memory of Light‚ where the chapter (singular) about the last battle is all one single huge chapter. It was a deliberate choice‚ meant to make the reader feel as if they had no logical stopping point—just as the characters couldn’t stop in the middle of the battle—and hence feel just as exhausted when they reached the end as the characters themselves. This meta approach and subtlety of structure is one of the things I love best about Brandon’s works. He’s manipulating you without you even realizing it’s happening‚ much like filmmakers use lighting techniques to achieve similar effects (which I believe we’ve talked about in this reread before). P: He knows his craft very well and gut-punches us as often as possible in these Sanderlanches. I’ll even start throwing in viewpoints that aren’t of the core three‚ which I hope will give the reader a sensation that something different is happening. The world‚ even the narrative structure of the book‚ is breaking apart. None of the old rules hold any more.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson Chapter 58 Raoden awoke to strange sounds. He lay disoriented for a moment in Roial’s mansion. The wedding wasn’t slated to happen until the following afternoon‚ and so Raoden had chosen to sleep in Kaloo’s rooms back in Roial’s mansion instead of staying at Kiin’s house‚ where Sarene had already taken the guest bedroom. Here’s Brandon’s note: Notice that Raoden awakes here‚ much in the same way that he did in chapter one. I kind of wanted this chapter to call back to that one. Both chapters open with a slight sense of peace‚ followed by awful discovery. Both end with Raoden being cast into hell.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Nice thematic book-ending. Poor Raoden‚ though. He’s finally found peace‚ or so he thought. About to marry his princess love…crowned king…finding some answers about the Dor at last… and now THIS: They were bare-chested‚ and their eyes seemed to burn. They looked like men‚ but their flesh was ridged and disfigured‚ as if a carved piece of metal had somehow been inserted beneath the skin.The Dakhor aren’t majorly deformed‚ however–they still have all the pieces in the right places. Their bones have simply been… changed. Expanded in places‚ simply twisted to form patterns in others. Because of this‚ of course‚ they have to run around shirtless. It’s more dramatic that way. Besides‚ we spent all this money on special effects–we might as well show them off.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: My actual expression reading that last line. P: I’m laughing at your GIF but I totally feel you. But he’s right. We wouldn’t be as horrified by them if they were wearing cloaks or tunics. Raoden froze. He recognized this demon. Though its body was twisted like the rest‚ its face was familiar. It was Dilaf‚ the Fjordell priest. L: ::GASP!:: Well! THAT explains a thing or two! (And yes‚ I’d completely forgotten this. Go me.) P: Don’t feel bad‚ I’d forgotten‚ too! Though how I could‚ I don’t know… I just read this three or four years ago. L: Pretty sure the last time I read this was when we did the gamma read for the tenth anniversary edition in 2015… “Make certain you deliver these tonight‚” Sarene said‚ pulling the lid closed on the final box of supplies.The beggar nodded‚ casting an apprehensive glance toward the wall of Elantris‚ which stood only a few feet away.“You needn’t be so afraid‚ Hoid‚” Sarene said. “You have a new king now. Things are going to change in Arelon.” L: HOID ALERT! Interesting to note that this is his very first appearance. Little did we know‚ when this book was released‚ just how important a character this lonely hooded beggar would become. P: And what was his purpose in Kae‚ I wonder‚ other than to deliver these weapons for Sarene? L: He was probably researching the fall of Elantris‚ knowing him. I bet the Shaod would be irresistible to him‚ from a researcher’s standpoint. P: That’s likely. Hoid is a curious one. It was a slaughter. The strange warriors killed dispassionately‚ cutting down man‚ woman‚ and child alike with casual swipes of their swords. P: Very dark and violent‚ but it kind of has to be‚ I think. It gives the payoff more meaning‚ makes it more impactful. So‚ this is where the book turns a little violent. … An evil that nobody was expecting has come against the city‚ and it’s controlled by a demented‚ hateful creature. I don’t see how we could get around having these scenes be particularly dark. I think there is an element of realism here too‚ however. This is what happens with all of the politics and the maneuvering breaks down.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson Things are looking dire for Sarene‚ but then… Her uncle held an enormous axe‚ large as a man’s chest. He smashed it into the creature’s back as it wiggled across the stones‚ reaching for its sword. L: Aw yeah! PIRATE KING KIIN TO THE RESCUE! Honestly I’d love to read a spin-off book about this guy and his earlier adventures. P: I love this scene! But it’s disheartening to see the effort it takes to kill one of the creatures. “Lukel‚ collapse the entryway‚” Kiin ordered.Lukel complied‚ throwing the lever Sarene had always mistaken for a sconce. A second later there was a mighty crash from the entryway‚ and dust poured through the kitchen door. L: Clever! Leave it to a pirate to always ensure that they’ve got a getaway plan. P: But Raoden!! Etched into the steel was a heraldic Aon—Aon Reo. The character meant “punishment.” L: Wow‚ that’s certainly a complicated one. P: Imagine drawing that in the air with your finger and having to keep it perfect. “They called him Dreok‚” she whispered. “The pirate Crushthroat.”“That was always a mistake‚” Kiin said in his raspy voice. “The true name was Dreok Crushed throat.”“He tried to steal the throne of Teod from my father‚” Sarene said‚ looking up into Kiin’s eyes.“No‚” Kiin said‚ turning away. “Dreok wanted what belonged to him. He tried to take back the throne that his younger brother‚ Eventeo‚ stole—stole right from under Dreok’s nose while he foolishly wasted his life on pleasure trips.” L: Talk about a surprise! Poor Sarene never saw that one coming! P: Nope. And suddenly Eventeo is tainted. So‚ call me melodramatic‚ but I think the Kiin surprise is one of my favorite in the novel. I’ve been foreshadowing this one from almost the beginning.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: If you’d like to read more about Kiin’s backstory‚ I recommend clicking the annotation link right there and reading up on it‚ because it’s pretty cool. Dilaf strode into the chapel‚ his face bright with satisfaction. One of his monks dropped an unconscious Raoden next to the far wall.“This‚ my dear Hrathen‚” Dilaf said‚ “is how you deal with heretics.” L: Gotta give the man this… he knows how to make an entrance. Took that one straight out of the Grade A Villain playbook. P: I keep expecting him to say “Mua-ha-ha!” Of all the titles in the hierarchy of the Derethi church‚ only two outranked gyorn: Wyrn‚ and gragdet—leader of a monastery. L: Well‚ that explains why Dilaf was always so annoyed by Hrathen’s orders. He outranked him this whole time and was having to pretend to be his subordinate. P: Yeah‚ that would chafe a bit. Also‚ I think he’s utterly bonkers. Horrible images washed through Hrathen’s mind. Images of priests chanting over him; memories of an awesome pain rising within‚ the pain of his bones reshaping. It had been too much—the darkness‚ the screams‚ the torment. Hrathen had left after just a few months to join a different monastery. L: Not only was Hrathen an subordinate‚ he hadn’t been able to cut it in Dilaf’s own monastery. Oooh‚ it must have rankled Dilaf to take orders from someone who flunked out of Pain University! P: As previously stated… bonkers. Gotta be‚ to willingly endure pain like that. “Oh‚ Hrathen.” Dilaf laughed. “You never did understand your place‚ did you? Wyrn didn’t send you to convert Arelon. …he sent you to inform the people of their impending destruction. You were a distraction‚ something for people like Eventeo to focus their attention on while I prepared for the city’s invasion. You did your job perfectly.” L: What a twist. P: Poor Hrathen‚ bested again. The world needs to know what happens to those who blaspheme against Jaddeth.” L: Yikes on bikes. Using genocide to instill loyalty in the people you’ve conquered? Remember that Grade A guidebook on Villainy? This is the master class. P: Outright slaughter like this is just abominable. And they won’t stop with the people of Kae‚ they’ll take Elantris next. “You will slaughter them all? You would murder an entire nation of people?”“It is the only way to be certain‚” Dilaf said‚ smiling. L: Oh god I’m sorry I have to. P: I don’t know whether to laugh or scold! By now‚ you should have realized that Dilaf was always the main villain of the story. He’s the one with true hatred‚ and true instability. Hrathen is an antagonist‚ but he’s no villain.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: I hate to give Hrathen even a morsel of empathy‚ but he’s right. P: Which is why we weren’t made to hate Hrathen. He often showed some good. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this‚ but this chapter forms a mini-triad of its own. It shows all three characters in their traditional rotation. It’s something fun I decided to do‚ playing with my own format. The idea was to give an unconscious sense of urgency to the reader by giving them a whole triad compacted into one chapter. I don’t expect anyone to pick up on it—actually‚ I don’t want them to. For it to work right‚ the reader will be paying so much attention to the text that they don’t consciously notice the speed up. However‚ I hope that it will make them read faster and faster as the book progresses.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Looking back on what you’ve read‚ did you notice‚ Cosmere Chickens? Or did Brandon manage to slip it by you as intended? P: He definitely makes me read faster and faster as the book progresses. Not sure I’ve noticed‚ though! Chapter 59 L: The POV-switching speeds up even further as we continue on into the Sanderlanche‚ and with good reason. Quick-rotating viewpoints give a cinematic feel to the story‚ in my opinion—kind of like cameras changing angles. This keeps things quick and snappy‚ and keeps the reader reading.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: But what about the triad structure‚ Past!Brandon? P: He likes to keep us guessing. If you’re paying attention to such things‚ we actually get two complete—and well-rotated—viewpoint triads in this chapter. Again‚ this is to increase the sense of urgency and pacing.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson P: There you go! The blow to his head had done something to his brain. He could barely keep himself upright‚ let alone speak. The worst part was‚ he knew it would never improve.He could not heal—now that the dizziness had come upon him‚ it would never leave. L: Oof. That’s a horrifying thought. It sounds like he’s had a concussion… and to have the symptoms of one of those in perpetuity? No thanks. P: Poor Raoden‚ enduring so much‚ though it takes place in short order. She opened her mouth to speak‚ knowing that her words would probably be the last Raoden ever heard.Hrathen stood by‚ a dismayed observer‚ as Sarene fell into Dilaf’s trap. L: She had the best of intentions‚ but sadly Dilaf outsmarted her. P: The slime ball appears to be good at doing that. Wake your soldiers and gather them on their ships. I will arrive in Teoras one hour from now‚ and if they are not ready to present a formal surrender‚ I will kill the girl. L: He really is a terrifyingly effective villain. P: I know he’s been incredibly dislikable through the whole book‚ but I feel that we have too little time to actively hate him. L: I agree with you. We don’t fully realize the extent of his evil until the very end. “You will kill the Teos as well‚” Hrathen said in Fjordell.“No‚” Dilaf said. “Others will perform those executions. I will just kill their king‚ then burn Teod’s ships with the sailors still on them. Once the armada is gone‚ Wyrn can land his armies on Teod’s shore and use the country as a battleground to prove his might.” L: Has anyone told Dilaf that he doesn’t have to be 300% evil? 100% is enough‚ my dude. P: I feel that 300% is a conservative assessment. “You are a monster‚” Hrathen whispered. “You will slaughter two kingdoms to feed your paranoia. What happened to make you hate Elantris so much?” L: At least Hrathen recognizes that he’s a monster. That’s… a slight relief. P: It’s absolutely a relief! To know that he’s not going along with it and is actively defying Dilaf is good to see. The still disoriented Raoden was stumbling toward his wife‚ who was being held by a quiet Dakhor. The prince reached out to her‚ his arm wavering.“Oh‚” Dilaf said‚ unsheathing his sword. “I forgot about you.” He smirked as he rammed the blade through Raoden’s stomach. L: … There… there are no words. P: Another very apt gif! There really aren’t‚ though. It’s no wonder Raoden immediately turned into a Hoed. And Dilaf’s smirk! I have rage!! Poor Sarene. Her weddings just never work out. Honestly‚ I think this might be one of the most traumatic sections of writing I’ve ever done. (Traumatic for the characters‚ that is. Like most writers‚ I’m a closet masochist‚ and enjoy making my characters–and my readers–squirm.) Things aren’t looking too good. Maybe they’ll get better in the next chapter.—Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: You’ll forgive us if we don’t trust you after what you just said‚ Past!Brandon… P: Seriously. I’m waiting until next week to read on. I’m exhausted. “You will find the Elantrians near the center of the city‚ in a place that seems more clean.”“We found them‚ my gragdet‚” the monk said. “Our men have already attacked.” L: SEE? See? This is why we have trust issues! P: Poor‚ poor Elantrians. We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments‚ and hope to join you there! Next week‚ we’ll be back with chapter sixty. The post <;em>;Elantris<;/em>; Reread: Chapters Fifty-Seven to Fifty-Nine appeared first on Reactor.

Metropolis isn’t a huge setting in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League but the ability to fast travel definitely helps move things along. Here’s how to fast travel in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. How to unlock fast travel in Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League There is fast travel in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League‚ but it’s not as robust as‚ say‚ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. In this game‚ you can only fast travel to the Hall of Justice. Related: All riddle solutions in Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League You unlock fast travel in Chapter 4 of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s main campaign. As you play through main and side missions‚ you’ll eventually complete one that grants you the ability to fast travel to the Hall of Justice. Screenshot: PC Invasion I like the way fast travel is handled in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. A fast travel system akin to Marve...

The exploration of unusual subjects—anything from flora and fauna to the effect of weather on the fighting—has increased greatly for Civil War audiences in recent years. Scott Hippensteel‚ professor of earth sciences at the University of North Carolina–Charlotte‚ is among those leading this continual growth. After addressing geology in Civil War combat situations in a previous book‚ Dr. Hippensteel has now delivered a detailed and‚ yes‚ fascinating look at how sedimentary rocks and sediment in general affected both combat and combat preparation during the conflict in Sand‚ Science‚ and the Civil War: Sedimentary Geology and Combat (University of Georgia Press‚ 2023). He recently sat down with us to discuss his book in more detail.  What inspired you to write about geology in the Civil War? I grew up near Gettysburg and spent countless hours as a youngster hiking around the battlefield and climbing through the boulders. As a little kid‚ Devil’s Den was like a giant jungle gym‚ but as I grew older‚ I became curious about both the military history and the natural history.  Scott Hippensteel Twenty years later‚ while working on my graduate degrees in geology at the University of Delaware‚ I began searching for ancient hurricane deposits in the salt marshes on the southeastern Atlantic coast. This often took me to the most stable portions of the islands‚ the parts of the shoreline that had best resisted erosion. These were durable sites that also attracted military engineers. I saw an overlap between my research sites and permanent coastal fortifications.  I started writing about the influence of geology on the Civil War after visiting the Stones River Battlefield on a “family” vacation (my wife and daughter now insist that we travel internationally exclusively to avoid such battlefields). At the center of the Union line there is an outcrop of limestone that formed perfect natural trenches and proved a significant defensive force-multiplier for the Federals. These unusual formations also slowed the Confederate pursuit and hindered their movement of artillery after the position had been abandoned. The link between geology and the battle was quite clear‚ but it didn’t appear this link had ever been explored in detail‚ other than by a few geologists at Gettysburg.  Describe your earlier efforts. My first book‚ Rocks and Rifles: The Influence of Geology on Combat and Tactics During the American Civil War‚ is subdivided based on rock type‚ and it discusses the geology of different battlefields across the country and how the nature of the rocks influenced the tactics and strategy used in each fight. In 2021‚ I wrote about the use of science in interpreting history with Myths of the Civil War: The Fact‚ Fiction‚ and Science behind the Civil War’s Most-Told Stories. My latest book is more focused on sediments and sedimentary rocks and the fighting along the coastlines and Mississippi River Valley.  What lessons of sediment and sand were learned during the Civil War? No military personnel during the war had any training in geology‚ and no one had ever connected geology‚ terrain‚ and tactics. The greatest student of sedimentary geology—and later the greatest proponent of the use of sand in defensive fortifications—was Quincy Gillmore‚ but it was a costly lesson because he failed to appreciate the value of beach sand before attacking Battery Wagner on Morris Island. Gillmore combined a massive bombardment from land-based heavy artillery with a cross-fire from naval vessels to greatly weaken (he thought) the fort before launching repeated land assaults‚ all of which failed. Upon later inspecting the abandoned fortification‚ he saw that the effects of the thousands of exploding shells were‚ in his words‚ “astonishingly slight” and “trifling.”  To demonstrate the strength of sand‚ which results from intergrain friction between tiny‚ hard‚ sharp quartz fragments‚ Gillmore ordered “penetration” tests‚ firing all sorts of small arms at typical defensive material like timber‚ muddy sod‚ and sandbags. The sand proved best at slowing incoming projectiles in every case‚ and sand proved even more effective at diminishing the shock effects of larger exploding shells. Sand also doesn’t lose any effectiveness when repeatedly struck by bullets or shells‚ unlike wood or brick.  Union General Quincy Gillmore became a firm advocate of using sedimentary geology to an army’s benefit. European countries later began using iron in their shore fortifications to deal with advances in technology and more effective naval artillery. The cash-poor United States couldn’t afford these upgrades and stuck with sand. Massive reinforced concrete structures buried in sand seemed to be the most cost-effective manner to protect our shorelines.  Tell us about Dennis Hart Mahan. How did his parapet construction assist in warfare? Mahan was trained as an engineer and instructed many officers from both sides of the conflict while he was chairman of West Point’s Engineering Department. His work on the design and construction of fortifications was a required part of the curriculum for 50 years. Mahan’s greatest contribution was his ability to clearly disseminate many of the lessons taken from European battlefields‚ including the use of combined arms and the design of permanent and field fortifications.  His Treatise on Field Fortifications outlines in great detail the proper plans for constructing a parapet for defensive purposes. He stated plainly that all “intrenchments” or fieldworks had three general purposes. First‚ it was critical that all works provide defensive cover. Second‚ they should provide improved firing positions for the defenders. Finally‚ they should prove a hindrance for the attacking force or “present an obstacle to the enemy’s progress.” The simplest way to meet all three criteria was to dig a long ditch and use the excavated sediment to construct an embankment‚ or parapet. The ditch provides an obstacle‚ and the parapet provides both an obstacle and protection and‚ if constructed properly and of the correct materials‚ an enhanced and raised firing position.  Mahan thought of his earthen fortifications as both a defensive force multiplier and a structure that could be critical for offensive tactics as well. Sheltered defending troops could provide a decisive counterattack after a failed assault against their works‚ striking the retreating enemy when their command structure was in disarray.  From what were most of Mahan’s structures made? This is a surprisingly complicated question‚ one that I dedicated about 10‚000 words to answer in the book. In short‚ the ratio of sand‚ clay‚ and cobbles in an earthwork can alter everything from how durable the structure is with respect to erosion to how well it resists penetration from enemy artillery shells. For example‚ a parapet constructed purely from quartz sand can absorb an immense amount of shellfire before losing effectiveness‚ but it will be especially prone to natural erosion. This is because the sand possesses a great degree of intergrain friction‚ but little natural cohesion. If clay is added to the sand‚ it will be more cohesive and erosion resistant‚ but it loses some of the ability to withstand incoming artillery rounds (and a parapet will be more challenging to repair). If cobbles are added to the superior (outside) slope of the parapet to reduce erosion‚ you have introduced a new secondary projectile that can be especially dangerous when struck by incoming fire.  When sand is piled for defensive purposes or when trenches are dug in clay-poor soils‚ some measure of revetment or reinforcement is needed to keep the sediment in place. Mahan spent almost as much time describing different kinds of revetments‚ including wood‚ marsh sod‚ gabions‚ and sandbags as he did discussing the proper properties of earth. I’ve always thought it interesting to consider how much military technology has changed from the Civil War to the present day‚ but sandbags have remained essentially consistent in both construction and use.  In regard to the Civil War parapets of Mahan’s design‚ no combination of sand‚ silt‚ and clay could survive the mobile firepower available during World War I. The result was that earthworks changed from piling sediment to create a parapet to digging into the earth‚ essentially providing no visible target for the enemy’s artillery. This introduced all new types of complications from porous and permeable sediments (and groundwater infiltration) and the need for extensive reinforcing and revetting.  How did gabions work? A gabion was constructed of sticks in a basket-form with flexible half-inch twigs used to tie them together. These cylindrical wicker drums were around two to three feet in diameter and three feet high. When filled with sediment they could stop a bullet or offer support for an overly steep slope. Often‚ for example‚ the interior slope of a parapet was lined with gabions. By the end of the war the interior of Fort Sumter was held in place by hundreds of large gabions that were filled with brick rubble.  One major drawback to using gabions occurred when fine dune or beach sand was used as fill. On Morris Island‚ South Carolina‚ for example‚ gabions were replaced by federal sappers with sandbags when the fine sediment was found to leak from between the interlocking sticks.   The U.S. military still uses gabions extensively‚ although they are no longer a stick-based defensive measure. The HESCO Mil‚ essentially a modern gabion‚ was introduced during the First Gulf War. The HESCO system consists of a collapsible steel wire mesh lined with a polypropylene geotextile and filled with local sediments. These structures offer more protection that the woven basket-of-branches gabions from the Civil War‚ while also being significantly simpler to assemble and fill.  Explain what Napoleon’s quote about mediocre troops means? I included Napoleon Bonaparte’s assessment “With mediocre troops one must shift much soil” as the first quote in the new book because it summarizes so perfectly the need for properly constructed field fortifications when working with inexperienced soldiers. While Union and Confederate infantry certainly did not suffer from a lack of courage‚ they were‚ for the most part‚ far from professional soldiers. In many instances troops entered combat with less than a month of drilling— the very definition of a “citizen- soldier.” In combat‚ any type of protection‚ whether a parapet‚ split-rail fence‚ linear trench‚ rifle pit‚ or preexisting stonewall‚ would offer some perception of protection‚ allowing a soldier an amplified sense of security. More confident soldiers performed better when fighting and were more likely to deliver effective rifle fire. They were also more likely to follow the command to counterattack if the circumstances dictated. The length of time required for reloading single-shot muzzle-loader‚ and the need to stand while doing so‚ only increased the sensation of vulnerability and increased the value of cover and protection. Concealed and protected soldiers were also‚ obviously‚ harder to maim and kill by an attacking enemy.  I’ve heard that there is an entire 20-minute portion of the new Napoleon film in which Joaquin Phoenix discusses the sedimentology of the battlefield of Austerlitz‚ but this could be wishful thinking.  Tell us about the sedimentary rocks and unconsolidated sediments that underlie the battlefields from the Coastal Plain. There is great variability in the sedimentary geology under the Coastal Plain battlegrounds‚ and a key factor determining the amount of sand‚ silt‚ and clay you will find is the site’s proximity to either the Fall Line‚ to the west (and north)‚ or the coastline‚ to the east (and south). The Fall Line is the contact between the hard igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Pied­mont and the Plain’s much less durable sedimentary rocks and sediments.  Many key cities straddle the Fall Line‚ including both wartime capitals‚ so it is no surprise many battlefields are found on or near this geologic contact. Generally‚ the closer you are to the Fall Line‚ the more consolidated (rock-like) are the sedimentary layers. Underlying Fredericksburg and the Seven Days’ battlefields are some of the Coastal Plain’s oldest and most durable clay-rich units‚ resulting in undulating terrain cut by stream valleys and river terraces. Hills and ridges are usually formed by clay-rich‚ highly compressed mixtures of sand and silt‚ and are more durable to weathering and erosion.  For battlefields farther from the Fall Line‚ like Bentonville or Morris Island‚ sand reigns; the terrain is especially flat. Entrenching is also fairly easy‚ though the sand requires much revetting. I argue in the book that the strongest defensive position occupied during the war was not on high‚ hard rock like Little Round Top or Kennesaw Mountain‚ but rather Lee’s position at Fredericksburg‚ where he organized his infantry and artillery along high‚ but slightly weaker‚ sedimentary strata (when compared to nearby igneous or metamorphic rock). These layers of sediment are tough enough to resist erosion‚ so they are elevated and dominate the surrounding landscape‚ but soft enough to allow digging. The geology allowed excellent sight lines and establishment of rifle pits and protected gun emplacements above a flat river terrace.  Talk about the “Fiasco at Fredericksburg.” At Fredericksburg‚ Ambrose Burnside attacked a strong position across open ground on a flat river terrace a dozen times in piece-meal fashion. If that wasn’t enough of a Federal “fiasco‚” what Burnside did less than a month later certainly qualified.  Fresh off his army’s great defeat at Fredericksburg‚ Burnside proposed crossing the Rappahannock with a surprise flanking movement and trapping Lee against the river’s west bank. Lee’s geological advantages would be largely mitigated and Burnside would be between the Confederates and their capital. But then it started to rain.   As the Federal units started moving west‚ more than three inches of freezing rain fell across the region and onto the absorptive clay-rich soils. This type of soil is called a Ultisol and is known for trapping water near the surface‚ minimizing deeper infiltration and producing standing water. Fields and roads become exhausting to cross and everything sank into the mud‚ including wagons‚ cannons‚ and mules. Churning by men on the march made things even more difficult.  On January 22‚ the rain stopped‚ yet somehow the situation became even more insufferable. Burnside wavered on whether to continue and it got colder. The mud‚ lubricated by the addition of massive amounts of rain‚ rendering it exceedingly slippery‚ now became more adhesive‚ sticking to everything. Men lost their boots; wagons became impossible to move; and misery increased. On January 26‚ with morale at a new low‚ Lincoln relieved Burnside of his command.  Tell us about Scott’s Anaconda plan along the Eastern coast. When General-in-Chief Winfield Scott proposed what would be known as the “Anaconda Plan‚” his goal was to isolate the south and divide the Confederacy into two parts by moving down the Mississippi River. The nickname alludes to the image of a giant snake surrounding and suffocating the southern ports.  There are a multitude of ways that sedimentary geology made the success of the plan and the Union blockade more challenging. For example‚ from a naval perspective‚ major trading centers like Wilmington were more difficult to blockade than it might appear. The presence of the Frying Pan Shoals‚ an unpredictable and treacherous sand body extending from the mouth of the Cape Fear River for more than 20 miles offshore‚ meant that two different naval squadrons would be required to suppress the city‚ and these units would not be able to support each other because of the sedimentary obstacle.  Sedimentary geology also made capture of the “Father of Waters” more difficult. Strongholds like Grand Gulf‚ Port Hudson‚ and Vicksburg were all carved into an unusual sediment called loess‚ a weakly-cemented silt that is ideal for entrenching and erodes into vertical cliffs. These qualities were exploited by the rebels to create massive‚ complex defensive entrenchments and elevated gun batteries above the river.  Even Flag Officer David Farragut’s fleet‚ attempting to move up the Mississippi past New Orleans‚ was hindered by sedimentary geology. His largest ship‚ the Colorado‚ was left behind in the gulf because she drew too much water to pass over the river’s sand distributary bar. In contrast‚ sediments did help with Farragut’s tactics when attacking Forts St. Philip and Jackson below New Orleans. To prepare his vessels for a night attack‚ dark Mississippi mud was smeared on the side of the boats for camouflage and sand was spread on the decks for traction in water or‚ inevitably‚ blood.  What was the fate of the fortifications? In Sand‚ Science‚ and the Civil War‚ I outline the differences in preservation potential between permanent and temporary fortifications. Permanent fortifications like the brick citadels of Forts Pulaski‚ Morgan‚ Pickens‚ and Sumter were constructed during peacetime in (presumably) geologically stable environments. It was anticipated that they would survive natural threats for a century or more‚ and most have. Fort McRee‚ constructed to protect Pensacola’s harbor‚ was an exception‚ having been eroded into the Gulf of Mexico by beach drift‚ sea-level rise‚ and storms. (Note that the later batteries of reinforced concrete from the Endicott Era that protected this same portion of the shoreline were often completely buried in Gulf Coast sand for additional protection.)  For temporary fortifications‚ which were constructed expeditiously during the war and lost a great deal of their strategic value when the fighting moved elsewhere‚ their fate is more perilous. Farmer’s plows and urban sprawl have destroyed many field fortifications. Some of the best soils for constructing earthworks are also‚ unfortunately‚ the most fertile.  Temporary fortifications are constructed of‚ or dug into‚ local sediments. Sand piled along the shoreline (Fort Fisher‚ Batter Wagner) or along rivers and bluffs (Island No. 10‚ Vicksburg’s batteries) are especially vulnerable to natural erosion. Coastal sand forts were also sited to take full advantage of barrier island geology and were often built very close to sea level to take advantage of ricocheting fire across the water. As a result‚ almost all have been lost because of sea-level rise‚ beach drift‚ storms‚ and antropogenically derived erosion (from jetty construction‚ for example).  Most lower-gradient rivers like the Mississippi also meander through soft sediments‚ a perfect destructive agent for temporary earthen fortifications that have no possibility of being relocated. As a result‚ fortifications like Fort Hindman and Island No. 10 have been completely lost to these highly dynamic environments.