fallslikesnow

The GSF Grand Banks is an Aker H3.2 semisubmerisble drill rig currently owned by Transocean (though the GSF refers to GlobalSanteFe ). It was built in 1984 by St. John Shipbuilding , Canada. It was originally known as the Bow Drill 3 (1984-1988), which changed to Maersk Vinlander (1988-1998) and Glomar Grand Banks (1998-2004) before its' current moniker. It has particular importance to the Newfoundland offshore industry, where it drills alongside the Henry Goodridge . It had drilled and located oil in the Hebron field in 1998, and more recently in the White Rose field. Currently, it is drilling for Husky on the North Amethyst project [1]

My story "Connect", originally part of the e-anthology "Extinct Doesn't Mean Forever", is now available on its own for free from Smashwords.

John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( Greek : Ίωάννης Η' Παλαιολόγος , Iōannēs VIII Palaiologos , 18 December 1392 – 31 October 1448), was the penultimate reigning Byzantine Emperor , ruling from 1425 to 1448. Wikipedia  Repeatedly the court had discussed the question of making their cause a universal one by reuniting their church with the Roman Catholic. Preliminary negotiations had already taken place. Greek ambassadors had appeared at (he Council of Constance. Emperor Manuel had shown a certain zeal in the cause of union, but chiefly from political motives. Now John VIII. (Figs. 88 and 89) returned to the matter with the honest purpose of bringing it to a satisfactory conclusion. The emperor himself and a large retinue of clerics and theologians sailed to Venice, in 1438. Thence they went to Ferrara, where the anti-council of Eugenius IV. was sitting. But here no conclusion was reached. In Florence, however, whither the pope transferred the council on acc...

  SECTION IV. Understand, then, O Son of Wisdom, what the Stone declares; Protect me, and I will protect thee; increase my strength that I may help thee ! My Sol and my beams are most inward and secretly in me my own Luna, also, my light, exceeding every light, and my good things are better than all other good things. I give freely, and reward the intelligent with joy and gladness, glory, riches, and delights; and them that seek after me I make to know and understand, and to possess divine things. Behold, that which the philosophers has concealed is written with seven letters; for Alpha and Yda follow two; and Sol, in like manner, follows the book; nevertheless, if thou art willing that he should have Dominion, observe the Art, and join the son to the daughter of the water, which, Jupiter and a hidden secret. Auditor, understand, let us use our Reason; consider all with the most accurate investigation, which in the contemplative part I have demonstrated to ...

The HENRY GOODRICH is a Sonat/Mitsui SES 5000 design propulsion assisted semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in harsh environments and water depths up to 2,000 ft using 18¾in 15,000 psi BOP and 21in OD marine drilling riser. 

"Imagine a fairy chain stretched from mountain peak to mountain peak, as far as the eye could reach, and paid out until it reached the 'high places' of the earth at a number of ridges, banks, and knowls. Then visualise a mound, circular earthwork, or clump of trees, planted on these high points, and in low points in the valley other mounds ringed around with water to be seen from a distance. Then great standing stones brought to mark the way at intervals, and on a bank leading up to a mountain ridge or down to a ford the track cut deep so as to form a guiding notch on the skyline as you come up.... Here and there, at two ends of the way, a beacon fire used to lay out the track. With ponds dug on the line, or streams banked up into 'flashes' to form reflecting points on the beacon track so that it might be checked when at least once a year the beacon was fired on the traditional day. All these works exactly on the sighting line." ...

         Places States Engines of Desire   Explanations If I were still there I could explain to you who I really was Fear There's nothing here for me, just the dull roar of the engines winding down at the end of the day Memories Frustrated Love tears over the Twin Turntables spin like rotors rippling Memories Sleep roar Helicopters sound like deep trance of Explanations An oil rig a return from the an escape from the clarity  of work engine the rotors tearing the air and shaking Elemental States me Processes Dominate to sleep and I awake to the sound of fuel being dumped to the watery mountains to the grey light reflecting in the North Sea

  SECTION III. Know my Son, that the philosophers bind up their matter with a strong chain, that it may contend with the Fire; because the spirits in the washed bodies desire to dwell therein and to rejoice. In these habitations they verify themselves and inhabit there, and the bodies hold them, nor can they be thereafter separated any more. The dead elements are revived, the composed bodies tinge and are altered, and by a wonderful process they are made permanent, as saith the philosopher. O, permanent watery Form, creatrix of the royal elements; who, having with thy brethren and a just government obtained the tincture , findest rest. Our most precious stone is cast forth upon the dunghill, and that which is most worthy is made vilest of the vile. Therefore, it behoves us to mortify two Argent vives together, both to venerate and be venerated, viz., the Argent vive of Auripigment, and the oriental Argent vive of Magnesia O, Nature, the most potent c...