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Notes
1 Roman fountains were decorated with bronze or stone masks of animals or heroes.
2 The Book of Ingenious Devices, describing the works of the 1st century Greek Engineer Hero of Alexandria… described fountains which formed water into different shapes and a wind-powered water pump.
3 Under the Medicis, fountains were not just sources of water, but advertisements of the power and benevolence of the city’s rulers.
1 Roman fountains were decorated with bronze or stone masks of animals or heroes.
2 The Book of Ingenious Devices, describing the works of the 1st century Greek Engineer Hero of Alexandria… described fountains which formed water into different shapes and a wind-powered water pump.
3 Under the Medicis, fountains were not just sources of water, but advertisements of the power and benevolence of the city’s rulers.
Chapter (1)
~ The Forest Fountain
Us entered the forest from the north side, through the meadow, at about 4½ hours before sundown. Obviously, to say, “the north side” is ridiculous, because Us knows the “north side” of the forest, to be neither straight nor distinct. But, if recall serves Us well, Us will remember there is that small clearing, which at some point started to be referred to as “the meadow” — and, there is a distinct path there. Us loves how the branches of the oak and pine parallax with smooth beauty in the canopy above. The smell is peaty and sappy; the path is sometimes spongey, but in some areas something like hard-packed gravel. Us thinks that these areas without moss are caused by sunlight coming through at certain times during the day. After walking for about 2 hours Us sees that there are stones bordering the trail and mostly gravel underfoot. After walking for another 10 minutes, the path rises up a distinct grade. When Us gets to the highest point, Us is stunned to see a very large, round, marble fountain in an unwooded circular area. The marble is grey and blue, and the fountain is round with concentric tiers, the smallest on top. Blue-ish water is spilling down, from one tier to the other until splashing in the large pool at the bottom. Us jogs down to the rim of the fountain. The rim is about knee high. Us is unsure of how the fountain is powered, or where the water generates from. But Us is happy to sit on the ground and leaning back against the low marble wall and listening and smelling and seeing, in the last remaining hours of daylight. Us removes the un-networked reader from the backpack and continues to read from favorite passages of verse, well into the evening.
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Notes
1 The development of elevators was led by the need for movement of raw materials including coal and lumber from hillsides.
2 In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable broke.
3 Elevator doors protect riders from falling into the shaft.
1 The development of elevators was led by the need for movement of raw materials including coal and lumber from hillsides.
2 In 1852, Elisha Otis introduced the safety elevator, which prevented the fall of the cab if the cable broke.
3 Elevator doors protect riders from falling into the shaft.
Chapter (2)
~ Ancient Elevators
The doors to the ancient carpark elevators scrape open; it is night, and Us is in a lonely and bad part of the city. There is a wind that Us thinks smells unhealthy. The wind wraps and presses a dirty page of newspaper around one shin. Us removes the paper with thumb and pointer finger, and disgustedly releases it. The wind takes it immediately, rolling and skipping it casually down the pitted black street. In the alley on the right, there is an oil drum with a robust fire; Us thinks this is a bit trite for such a scene. There is no one around. Walking a little further there is a distinct smell of meat cooking. Us shuffles along toward the smell, since it seems to be on the way to “the dock” (where the meeting is to happen). After moving along a bit, Us seems to be right on top of the smell. Us looks over the shoulder-height fence along the sidewalk. No grill, no evidence of a kitchen or the like. There is only one distinctive object: a large, white, solitary flower, blossoming from a single stalk of cactus. Us thinks the flower looks “weird,” and out of place. Us looks at it closely, and touches one petal; it is not fake, apparently. Us walks further along toward the water front. The breeze is briny down here, and still smells a bit rank. A helicopter is landing on the other side of the river.
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Notes
1 Manufacturers offer certain guarantees when you use genuine brand toner in your printer and makes certain threats if you don’t.
2 Problems with compatible toners may be caused by various factors including different melting points, different electrostatic qualities, different pigments and different particle sizes.
3 Toner refill kits are also an option, allowing the consumer to simply refill an empty cartridge.
1 Manufacturers offer certain guarantees when you use genuine brand toner in your printer and makes certain threats if you don’t.
2 Problems with compatible toners may be caused by various factors including different melting points, different electrostatic qualities, different pigments and different particle sizes.
3 Toner refill kits are also an option, allowing the consumer to simply refill an empty cartridge.
Chapter (3)
~ Last Toner Cartridge
The last thing Us remembered seeing in the fire, was the printer toner cartridges. The smoke was thick, and Us was severely light headed, but Us distinctly recalled seeing the HP shipping box and one black and white cartridge resting, angled on the carpet. Nothing else, just the cartridges. The facets of those things are so peculiar, almost unimaginably so, Us thought. After this, US passed out.
Us woke up being pushed by two firemen. One was African American, so Us immediately felt a connection. When outside they gave Us some oxygen through one of those clear tubes, with the nostril holes. Us thought Us overheard that ______ was still missing, which made Us terrified and made Us feel like Us was going to vomit.
After coming to, Us was laying on the gurney, off to the side of the excitement and terror. Us watched little flecks of burned debris falling all over. Us looked at the blue sky beyond the haze and at the flakes collecting on the jacket and the gray straps that secured us to the contraption. Us heard a rumbling that sounded like a massive engine grinding to a halt, as well as screams and yells. Us weakly looked over and saw only approaching blobs of smoke.
Us collapsed back looking in the opposite direction at the side street. Before passing out again Us made eye contact with ______ as she was driving by in her little blue sedan.
